Chapter 1011: The Purple Mirror

As the supreme cultivators returned to the world, news of the battle that had taken place beyond the heavens quickly spread.

"Long live Emperor Xiao!"

"Emperor Xiao is invincible!"

Across the land, countless citizens cheered in excitement upon receiving the news.

Previously, the citizens of all divine empires across the world had been told that their power would go to support Xiao Nanfeng's battle against the new heavens. Everyone saw him as their last hope.

Even though the Yuqing Grandmaster might have been stronger, the citizens had been told that he had been suppressed and was unable to act. It was Xiao Nanfeng who had turned the tide. Thus, countless citizens and cultivators felt deep gratitude toward him.

Upon returning to Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng immediately instructed Wen Zhong to dispatch all strategists and officials from the Ministry of Rites toward various Immortal cities across the world in an attempt to persuade them to surrender.

A great number of Immortal Emperors had perished in the conflict. Though their divine empires could be passed down to their successors, Xiao Nanfeng didn't intend to give them this opportunity.

In peacetime, he wouldn't have resorted to such aggressive tactics, but with the new heavens looming over them, he needed more territory, more people, more fortune, and stronger imperial might. He didn't want to have to waste time later convincing other rulers to lend him their fortune. They might agree, but what if something unexpected were to happen? It was better to consolidate everything under his control now.

The noble clans of the now leaderless divine empires, knowing that Xiao Nanfeng had just slain the heavens, placed their trust in him. They knew that the new heavens would descend again, making them more willing to accept Xiao Nanfeng's offer of surrender.

At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng sent envoys to persuade the emperors and kings of various ordinary empires and kingdoms. Although many rulers harbored ambitions of their own, time was no longer on their side. Given the prevailing circumstances, many of them chose to join the Dazheng Alliance. Of course, Xiao Nanfeng provided them with ample incentives—not just material wealth and high-ranking positions within Dazheng but also extensive autonomy over their own territories.

With time running short, Dazheng's priority was to quickly unify the world's lands.

Over the course of just two months, the Dazheng Alliance and its four celestial dynasties absorbed vast territories, bringing half of the four great continents under their control and making them the undisputed largest power in the world.

During this period of time, Madam Rouge, Liu Miaoyin, and the Divine Emperor entrusted Xiao Nanfeng with governance while they focused on comprehending the remaining eight fundamental laws. Like other top powerhouses, they aspired to master all nine laws and control all nine branches of the world tree.

In Yongding's imperial study, Xiao Nanfeng was reviewing a number of documents when he suddenly sensed a summons from the Superior. He switched over to his Deific Yin body, and his spiritual moon emerged from his mindscape.

"Is there something you need, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

The Superior floated before him. "Your avatar has always been the one residing in Yongding. Why is your main body doing so now? Where is your avatar?"

"Do you need my avatar for something, Senior?"

"I overheard your discussion earlier. Is your avatar in the undying realm?"

"Indeed." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Why?"

"He's taking advantage of the heavenly restrictions there to meld a cursed effigy with his purple moon."

"You intend to combine Yu Banruo's cursed mirror with that moon?"

"Indeed. This was the Yuqing Grandmaster's advice. As the creator of the Yuqing Yin Body, he understands it best."

The Superior pondered for a moment. "As I recall, the Yuqing Grandmaster was worried that you wouldn't be able to control the purple moon and might suffer backlash as a result, which is why he suggested this method. But he also mentioned that fusing a cursed king into the purple moon is only a temporary measure. The best solution is for you to subdue the purple moon yourself."

"That's right." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"In that case, why meld the cursed king into it at all? Your red and blue moons can already suppress it, so there's no threat to you. Why not take advantage of your red and blue moons to refine the purple eye with your willpower instead? That would serve as both a trial and an act of cultivation."

Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "Senior, I recall that when I first refined the Realm of the Three Worlds, I asked if you had any way to help me resolve the purple moon's hidden dangers. Back then, you said you didn't understand it and had no solution for me. Now that I've found a potential solution, why do you want me to leave it be?"

"Ever since you asked me that question, I've been trying to come up with a solution for you. Over time, I realized that the purple moon actually serves as a catalyst for your cultivation, and wanted to warn you before you did something irreversible. Not only is your solution temporary, it's also counterproductive—it'll deprive you of the opportunity to attune to the purple moon, making it harder to control in the future."

Xiao Nanfeng remained deep in thought and considered the potential implications.

"I've even developed a technique that may help you subdue the purple moon. Do you want it?"

Xiao Nanfeng hesitated, weighing the various options before him.

"Don't you trust my abilities? Back in the day, even the three Qing Grandmasters learned from me. Do you think my teachings would be inferior to theirs?" the Superior continued.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Nanfeng replied, "I appreciate your kindness, Senior, but I'd like to suppress my purple moon for the time being. I don't want to harbor lingering risks."

He didn't doubt the Superior's abilities, but he didn't trust him as a person.

The Superior, frustrated by Xiao Nanfeng's refusal, fell silent. Realizing that further persuasion on his part would be futile, he eventually flew back into Xiao Nanfeng's mindscape.

Xiao Nanfeng resumed perusing the stack of documents before him.

Within the undying realm, Xiao Nanfeng's avatar stood on a vast plaza with his subordinates as they gazed at the storm clouds high above.

Blue Lantern was carefully setting up a formation, while a man radiating a bronze glow stood beside Xiao Nanfeng. He was none other than the former ruler of the undying realm, the undying king, now incarnate in his blade.

The undying king sighed. "Blue Lantern is indeed skilled. The energy of natural law I accumulated over millennia, he managed to harness with his formations in mere moments."

Blue Lantern replied, "Senior, this energy is far too complex for me to master. My formations serve only as a rough guide. I'll still need your assistance for the next step."

The undying king smiled at Blue Lantern. "Allow me to apologize for imprisoning you here for a millennium."

Blue Lantern returned a wry smile. "Let's speak of the past later. For the moment, we should focus on the matter at hand."

The undying king nodded and turned to the sky once more. "I will assist in channeling this power."

Xiao Nanfeng gazed at the sky and saw a colossal Heaven's Hand floating amidst the dark clouds. However, this Hand was bound tightly by numerous bronze chains.

Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously, "Undying King, did you set up this realm so as to control this Heaven's Hand?"

The undying king nodded. "My initial thought was to take advantage of the Heaven's Hand to attack the heavens, but it seems that I was far too naive. Let's focus on your issue at present."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Three moons rose up from Xiao Nanfeng's back, illuminating the sky.

"Activate the formation!" Blue Lantern commanded.

The formations masters of Dazheng swiftly activated their respective formations, illuminating the heavens. At the same time, Blue Lantern's bronze compass floated into the air to suppress the Heaven's Hand.

Under the guidance of the formation's power, the Heaven's Hand was drawn toward Xiao Nanfeng's purple moon.

Sensing the impending threat, the purple moon emitted a resonant hum as a thin crack appeared on its surface. The purple eye opened up, releasing a potent beam that sought to annihilate the formation restraining the Heaven's Hand.

"Suppress it!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

Both his red and blue moons released a beam of light that struck the purple eye directly, causing it to tremble and suppressing its radiance. It was rendered immobile.

Then, Xiao Nanfeng revealed a circular mirror from his palm, the cursed effigy that had once been Yu Banruo.

"Go!" Xiao Nanfeng flung the mirror into the air, sending it straight at the purple eye.

Blue Lantern and the undying king made their move simultaneously. The Heaven's Hand and countless bronze chains rushed into the purple eye as well.

The purple eye quivered violently and erupted in a storm of purple flames.

However, under the combined suppression of all present, the purple eye was unable to break free. It could only struggle as purple light leaked out from it and illuminated the sky.

Having previously melded his red and blue moons, Xiao Nanfeng understood that an immense quantity of energy was needed to fuel the fusion between his purple moon and Yu Banruo's cursed mirror. The Heaven's Hand provided that energy, but he would need to guide it to facilitate the fusion. The undying king's power of natural law and Blue Lantern's formations were crucial for this process.

For half a day, the skies shone with light as the purple moon was gradually suppressed. Even so, it continued to release a bright purple glow.

Another day passed before that light slowly vanished.

Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the purple moon. With a resonant hum, the purple moon transformed into a massive purple mirror that reflected purple light. At that moment, he finally felt that he had gained control over his purple moon.

"It worked," the undying king said, eyes brightening.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty." Blue Lantern smiled.

"Thank you, everyone."