Chapter 1001: The New Heavens

In the imperial study at Yongding, a spectral guard reported to Xiao Nanfeng, "Lord Tang has relayed that he is currently with the six saints' avatars. They claimed that their bodies had all been slain, and that their charms of heavenly law had been seized by the ten supreme cultivators."

Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. He now had a clearer understanding of those cultivators' strength. If they had indeed clashed that day, it would surely have resulted in mutual destruction.

"Lord Tang asks if you'd like to know the location of the six saints' avatars, Your Majesty," the spectral guard reported.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "No need. The six saints surely have multiple avatars. Even if we surround them, we can't kill them all. They don't yet suspect Tang, which is for the best. Our primary task now is to support and protect him."

"Understood!" the spectral guard replied.

"Tell Tang to safeguard himself. He may request anything he needs," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

"Understood!"

"Dismissed."

The spectral guard bowed and retreated from the study.

In a peach blossom grove in Danan's capital, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he faced one of Madam Rouge's attendants. "Has Yanzhi not yet emerged from secluded cultivation? Is she unwilling to see me?"

The attendant frowned. "I'm very sorry, Your Majesty. Before Her Majesty entered seclusion, she explicitly stated that she would meet with no one, not even you. She's attuning to her charm of heavenly law and claimed that she wouldn't emerge until she fully manifested her world tree."

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

He naturally wouldn't trouble Yanzhi's attendant, but couldn't help but be frustrated. It had been months since they're last meeting. After the three women had a private discussion behind his back, they all went into seclusion. He hadn't seen them since.

Although Xiao Nanfeng didn't know what they had discussed, he understood that they were competing with each other—and he was the one suffering as a result.

"Forget it. Inform me immediately once Yanzhi emerges," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

"Of course, Your Majesty!" the attendant replied.

Resigned, Xiao Nanfeng left the peach blossom grove.

Outside the grove, a group of black-robed individuals lay in wait.

"Your Majesty, the northern sea hidden realm has been secured. You may enter it at any time," one of them reported.

"Good. Lead the way."

"Understood!"

Xiao Nanfeng, escorted by a group of black-robed individuals, rushed toward the Northern Sea.

Before long, they arrived at a secluded island in the region.

A group of spirits lay in wait. When they sensed Xiao Nanfeng's arrival, a dragon-headed spirit king stepped forward and bowed. "I greet Emperor Xiao."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Has the Dragon King of the Northern Sea arrived?"

"My master is in secluded cultivation and has instructed us to hand over this hidden realm to you. He begs forgiveness for his absence."

"The Dragon King of the Northern Sea is a man of his word. Please convey my thanks to him."

This was one of the ten hidden realms that Xiao Nanfeng had bargained for by providing the locations of the six saints to the ten supreme cultivators.

"Understood! We shall take our leave." The spirit king bowed again, then led his subordinates away.

On the island, a group of Dazheng cultivators had just handled the details of the transferral.

"Open!" one Dazheng cultivator commanded.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

A void portal appeared before them.

"Your Majesty, Sir Blue Lantern is already inside and awaiting your arrival," the Dazheng cultivator reported.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and entered the hidden realm with his black-robed retinue.

The portal hummed shut behind them.

Inside the realm, fog shrouded their surroundings. Blue Lantern quickly approached and said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and sat cross-legged in meditation as Blue Lantern activated the formation.

With a loud rumble, the sky darkened. A massive hand descended from the heavens, suppressing the fog as it approached Xiao Nanfeng.

With the help of Blue Lantern's bronze compass, Xiao Nanfeng opened his mouth and absorbed the Heaven's Hand and its accompanying dark clouds.

The immense power surged into Xiao Nanfeng's body, where it was rapidly broken down. The special cursed spiritual power of the heavens was absorbed into his golden tree, aiding its growth. The remaining energy strengthened Xiao Nanfeng's body, making him even stronger than before.

Four hours later, Xiao Nanfeng had digested all the energy from the Heaven's Hand.

Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes wide.

"Your Majesty, have you not managed to break through?" Blue Lantern exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Now that I've opened my Heartgate, it'll take me ever more energy to break through. A single massive Heaven's Hand is insufficient."

Blue Lantern was left speechless. Just how much energy did Xiao Nanfeng need to cultivate? Even a Heaven's Hand that had been able to suppress a cursed king was insufficient to advance him by just a minor stage..."

"The ten supreme cultivators promised me a hidden realm each. There are nine more. Let's continue," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

"Understood," Blue Lantern replied, though there was a peculiar expression on his face.

Within the hidden realm, now that the heavens' restrictions had been lifted, there were plenty of treasures that could be harvested.

Xiao Nanfeng left the tedium to his subordinates as he left with Blue Lantern in tow.

Then, they headed toward the next hidden realm.

It took them four hidden realms in quick succession before Xiao Nanfeng finally managed a breakthrough. Fiery energy shot out from his body in a shockwave.

"The seventh stage of the Boundless Immortal realm—good! Onto the next hidden realm." Xiao Nanfeng stood up, his eyes glinting.

Though he didn't know just how the ten supreme cultivators had split the six saints' charms among themselves, they had honored their promise. Each had sent subordinates to transfer a hidden realm to him.

Over the next two months, Xiao Nanfeng visited all the hidden realms. Finally, after absorbing all the energy of the tenth hidden realm, another burst of fire was released from deep within his body.

"The eighth stage of the Boundless Immortal realm..." Xiao Nanfeng exhaled as he opened his eyes.

With his newfound strength, Xiao Nanfeng felt invincible. If he were to face Yu Banruo now, he believed that he would be able to defeat him even without imperial might or the aid of the three eidola.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Your Majesty." Blue Lantern smiled.

"It's all thanks to your assistance," Xiao Nanfeng replied. "I wouldn't have broken through so quickly otherwise."

"Hardly, Your Majesty," Blue Lantern replied humbly.

In a dimly lit hall, the six saints' avatars gathered once more.

"Your Eminences, shouldn't I leave? It's not appropriate for me to listen in on your discussions," Tang said nervously.

"Stay. We need you to divine our fortunes," one saint said.

"I don't know how to do so, Your Eminences! I only have flashes of insight when I'm in imminent peril."

"That's precisely why we need you. If we had listened to you earlier and avoided Xiao Nanfeng, we wouldn't have suffered so much."

"Exactly. Damn that Xiao Nanfeng and those scoundrels! Just how did they discover us?"

"Tang, from now on, you'll stay with us and warn us of any danger."

The saints had suspected Tang before, but the crux was that Tang had warned them every time before imminent danger. They had only fallen prey because they hadn't listened. As such, they became more trusting of Tang instead.

"Understood, Your Eminences," Tang replied obediently.

Then, the saints began lamenting about their losses to each other.

"I can no longer sense my charm of heavenly law."

"Neither can I. Those thieves must have attuned to them fully over the past six months."

"Damn it! They'll pay for this once the heavens descend once again!"

Tang listened to the grousing quietly and patiently. He glanced at the saint who had summoned everyone. He had sat in silence the entire time, slowly sipping on his cup of tea, as if waiting for the others to unload their grievances.

Finally, the saints turned toward the saint who had convened the meeting. "Saint Wu Shang, why have you summoned us here? You haven't said a thing!"

Wu Shang smiled. "I was waiting for you to finish your conversation."

"Oh?" The saints quieted down, waiting for him to continue.

Wu Shang had another sip of tea. "It's time for us to seek vengeance."

"Vengeance? Our main bodies are dead, and our charms have been seized. How will we take revenge? The whole world will swarm us if we show ourselves," one saint said, shaking his head. "Unless the heavens have descended once more, we're done for."

Wu Shang's smile widened. "Indeed, the heavens are about to descend."

The saints' eyes widened. They glanced at Wu Shang in shock.

"What? The new heavens are here?" one saint exclaimed.

Tang gaped. He held his breath, his heart thudding anxiously.

My other avatar has been stationed far beyond the skies to await the heavens' return. Yesterday, the new heavens descended. My avatar has already gone to pay homage to them. I shall take you to do the same. Will you accompany me?"

The saints eyed each other, as if trying to discern truth from falsehood.

In the end, one turned toward Tang. "Tang, is Wu Shang right? Is there any danger?"

Tang replied, "I don't know. I can't sense anything."

The saints smiled, overjoyed.

"Let's go, Wu Shang. Bring us to greet the new heavens!" one saint shouted in excitement.

"Let's go! I've had enough of living like a rat. Let's greet the new heavens!" another cried out.