Chapter 1033: Return to Yongding

The primordial altar released large quantities of black smoke that clouded the surroundings, as if worried that Xiao Nanfeng's appearance would divulge its location.

"I won. I reclaimed my physical body and came out following my world tree," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

Then, he recounted all that had taken place in the white life hidden realm in the meantime.

"The white-furred monsters are draining my strength?"

The primordial altar was taken aback. Then, it abruptly fell silent, as if digesting this troubling piece of news.

After a long while, it released a deep sigh.

Xiao Nanfeng replied resolutely, "There's no need to sigh. Our victory is imminent. I can enter the white life hidden realm at will through my world tree, and I can sense what's going on within as well. We'll surely take down the Darkborn this time!"

The primordial altar was silent for a long moment before replying, "You grew far faster than I anticipated. In this time of crisis, you've brought hope back to the entire planet."

"I was merely lucky. The three Qing Grandmasters engineered much of what came to pass," Xiao Nanfeng replied modestly.

"Them? They won't do. They've long since set their minds on the depths of space. Their three successors are meant to shoulder the planet's responsibilities on their behalf. They won't do," the primordial altar replied.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened, unsure of how to continue the conversation.

"You're different. It doesn't matter where you go, because you've managed to recreate the giant nine-colored tree in your world of the heart thanks to the Heavenly Dao Scroll. Weak and immature though it currently might be, it was birthed from a copy of me at peak strength, and will ultimately grow at least as strong. Subsequently, it'll share my ability to obtain treasures from the depths of space—and even if you venture into those depths yourself, you can always teleport back with its help."

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "What do you mean? What are your plans for the future?"

The primordial altar didn't seem interested in explaining itself just yet. "What preparations do you intend to make for the upcoming Darkborn invasion?"

"I need fortune—the entire world's fortune," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The primary reason that he had been able to split his soul from the Superior's without any lasting damage was the fortune he had gathered from the Dazheng Alliance, which served to replenish his soul during the operation. To save his parents, he would need to use the same method twice over. It would cost him a staggering amount of fortune.

"Then have Dazheng ascend into the Imperial Court. The Imperial Court can manipulate and store fortune with even greater efficiency than a divine empire."

Xiao Nanfeng hadn't anticipated such a suggestion, but he was amenable to the idea. "Very well. I shall prepare a sacrifice for you in Yongding."

"I shall assist you. You may return," the primordial altar said.

"Your help is greatly appreciated." Xiao Nanfeng gave the primordial altar a deep bow before soaring into the air and disappearing from sight.

At the moment, the primordial altar's hiding place was a secluded, fog-shrouded valley on a remote island. Xiao Nanfeng took a moment to get his bearings before flying straight to Yongding.

The moment Xiao Nanfeng left the valley, the void rippled as the primordial altar disappeared from the spot.

The next moment, a black cloud of energy appeared within the sea of fortune above Yongding.

"Since you're going to establish a new Imperial Court, allow me to help. It shall be the foremost of all Imperial Courts in the history of this planet. Your golden dragon of fortune is yet undifferentiated. I will use my mastery over space to forge a spatial rune on its behalf," the primordial altar telegraphed, but Xiao Nanfeng's will wasn't connected to the golden dragon of fortune. He didn't receive the message.

The primordial altar sucked up the golden dragon of fortune. It instinctively tried to resist, but the primordial altar had been the one to conjure the golden dragon in the first place. The golden dragon was sucked into the altar without further ado.

It roared as it struggled—then vanished the very next moment.

Yongding's roiling sea of fortune was similarly sucked into the primordial altar at an astonishing rate. In no time at all, it had disappeared entirely. The primordial altar had no inclination to reveal itself, and likewise vanished from sight.

The commotion proved particularly disturbing to countless cultivators in Yongding.

Within a hall in Yongding's palace, Madam Rouge, the Divine Emperor, Liu Miaoyin, and important officials of Dazheng had been discussing the affairs of the world.

Wen Zhong smiled. "Your Majesties, over the past month, the majority of the unaffiliated forces around the world have shown interest in joining our alliance. Dazheng will soon rise higher than ever before."

"Well done." The three women nodded simultaneously.

Liu Miaoyin smiled. "In that case, we simply need to await Nanfeng."

The Divine Emperor frowned in worry. "I wonder how he's doing..."

Madam Rouge glanced at the other two women. "I'm sure he's fine, but once he returns, what will happen to us?"

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Though the three women had gotten along during their month presiding over Yongding, and though they had cooperated and exchanged insights in order to advance their own understanding of the world tree, in the end, there was only one Xiao Nanfeng and three of them. What would happen to their relationship once Xiao Nanfeng returned?

They were each prideful and confident, and they had all been hegemons of their respective eras. And while Xiao Nanfeng had won their hearts, that couldn't be said for each other.

They were willing to be selfless, but not for love.

Once Xiao Nanfeng returned, they would become competitors once more.

The three women exchanged a complicated glance. Though they were on good terms, they did all want Xiao Nanfeng for themselves.

Just then, Yongding's golden dragon of fortune let out a "wail," followed by startled exclamations from the cultivators outside.

"The sea of fortune is shrinking? How could this be?"

"Where's the golden dragon of fortune? How could it have vanished?"

"Is the sea of fortune collapsing? Could His Majesty—no, that's impossible!"

Countless people exclaimed in disbelief.

Dazheng's officials blanched and rushed out of the hall. Everyone knew that an empire's sea of fortune collapsed when its emperor died. Could Xiao Nanfeng have perished?

"No—impossible!" Dazheng's officials shouted.

The three women all rushed out of the hall urgently. They looked up at the sky, which had lost its usual golden tinge.

They flashed toward the location where the sea of fortune had vanished.

The Divine Emperor was at a loss. Her eyes filled with tears. "How could the sea of fortune have gone missing just like that? And the golden dragon of fortune... This can't be! Nanfeng, what happened to you?!"

Liu Miaoyin's limbs turned cold. She knew that Dazheng's fortune was linked to Xiao Nanfeng's truesoul. So long as nothing happened to Xiao Nanfeng's truesoul, Dazheng's sea of fortune would remain intact. The current situation could only mean that Xiao Nanfeng was dead—that his truesoul had dissipated.

Liu Miaoyin's eyes turned red as she cried out in grief, "No! How could this have happened? Nanfeng!"

Madam Rouge's mind began to buzz. All she recalled were images of Xiao Nanfeng accompanying her in the past.

"Yanzhi, let me sing you a song. The evening breeze sways the bamboo forest..."

"Yanzhi, as long as I'm around, I won't let anyone bully you."

"'Ask me how deeply I love you... The moon represents my heart.' I'll sing it to you as often as you want."

Memories flashed through Madam Rouge's mind as her head continued to buzz. Tears streamed down her face, and her hands and feet turned cold. She felt as if her soul was being ripped apart. Suddenly, she staggered and vomited out a mouthful of blood.

Liu Miaoyin, her eyes red, quickly supported the faltering Madam Rouge. "Yanzhi!"

Madam Rouge's face was pale. Her body was trembling more and more violently. "Miaoyin, our husband..."

The Divine Emperor's face had turned white. "Miaoyin, I want my husband back! I'd give up anything for him!"

Liu Miaoyin held Madam Rouge with one hand and the Divine Emperor with the other. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She was the gentlest and most emotionally stable of the three, so when Madam Rouge and the Divine Emperor broke down, they instinctively clung to her.

At that moment, however, she wasn't faring any better than they were. Just because she had always been the most gentle, the most composed, didn't mean that she had to be the most resolute, too. She might be able to remain strong in the face of adversity, but not when it involved her husband's death. She couldn't hold herself together. Her face was pale; tears flowed down her cheeks with abandon. She was utterly lost.

The three women clung to each other, tears sliding down their fair cheeks like pearls.

At that moment, countless officials, soldiers, and citizens of Yongding began to weep and mourn as they called out the emperor's name. A profound sense of sorrow enveloped the entire city.

Just then, a streak of light shot across the sky, heading straight for Yongding.

With a loud boom, the light stopped above Yongding, sending a gust of wind in all directions.

Amidst the city's grief, this figure's sudden appearance caught everyone's attention. Countless cultivators looked up—only to see none other than their emperor, Xiao Nanfeng. As soon as he arrived, he saw the three women hugging each other and crying in the sky, while the entire city down below was engulfed in sorrow.

"Where's Dazheng's fortune?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly exclaimed.

That exclamation interrupted everyone's weeping. Countless citizens widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Is that... His Majesty?"

"His Majesty's still alive. His Majesty has returned!"

The people of Dazheng flew into the sky in excitement.

The three women were also jolted out of their grief by the familiar voice. They turned and saw the man they had longed for, the man they had nearly despaired over. The man who had almost broken their hearts in death was... standing right in front of them?