Chapter 251: The Spirits' Imperial Court

Two hours later, after Xiao Nanfeng distilled the essence of two Wingform-realm inner cores, he had recovered from the worst of his injuries.

Without the threat of the Wingform-realm crow spirits, and with many Spiritsong-realm crow spirits killed by the Immortal's Destruction, the elders were able to take control of the fighting. They forced the crow spirits to the sea, then surrounded and killed them. There was enough breathing room that the most seriously injured elders could return to the island proper and rest.

"Die!" Zhao Yuanjiao roared from high in the air.

"No!" the final Wingform-realm crow spirit shrieked.

Everyone looked up to see Zhao Yuanjiao soaring into the sky, brandishing his sword in one hand. Dozens of crescent blades appeared around his sword in the form of afterimages, striking the Wingform-realm crow spirit like a meteor. The Wingform-realm crow spirit disintegrated in a spray of flesh and blood.

After Zhao Yuanjiao slew the final Wingform-realm crow spirit, he quickly joined the elders. The Spiritsong-realm crow spirits, already at a disadvantage, easily fell to the elders' and Zhao Yuanjiao's combined assault. The remaining crow spirits tried to flee, but were unable to do so before they were taken down.

A firestorm continued to rage around Hong Lie and Xiang Pojun, mired in an intense fight. Suddenly, Xiang Pojun cried out. Another huge mushroom cloud rose into the air as Xiang Pojun was sent flying. He was bloody all over and grievously injured. He fled into the distance.

"Stay right here!" Hong Lie chased after him.

"Hong Lie, just you wait. I'll come back and seek my revenge. When I do, none of you will be able to escape. Crow Immortal, let's leave!"

Xiang Pojun fled in disgrace, his raid on Taiqing Island eminently unsuccessful. Hong Lie chased after him.

"The crow Immortal won't be leaving with you," Ku Jiang announced from another flaming battlefield.

"No!" the crow Immortal cawed in despair.

The flames abruptly extinguished as Ku Jiang's Yin Body floated through the air, carrying the crow Immortal's corpse in his hands.

The elders had already returned to the plaza outside the Vault of Scriptures. Although many of them were injured, their overwhelming victory brought a smile to everyone's faces.

Ku Jiang's yin body left the crow Immortal's corpse on the plaza for everyone to look at.

Meanwhile, he returned to his physical body, which woke with a start.

"Nanfeng, I saw your fight. Very well done," Ku Jiang said.

"It's my duty to protect the sect," Xiao Nanfeng replied as he got up.

"For your willingness to discard even Immortal relics in defense of the sect, I award you the inner core of this crow Immortal. Claim it yourself," Ku Jiang said.

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

The crow Immortal was dead, but its body still exuded waves of spiritual energy. With his spiritual power, Xiao Nanfeng quickly identified where the crow Immortal's inner core was kept and claimed it with his divine undying blade.

As he cut a precise incision in the crow Immortal's carcass and rummaged through its flesh, he quickly found and held up an inner core radiating with light.

Everyone gasped and took in a breath. They were astounded by the treasure, but none were jealous. They had all seen Xiao Nanfeng destroy two Immortal relics in defense of the elders, and they all judged him worthy of receiving the crow Immortal's inner core.

"Go distill it now before its spiritual energy dissipates," Ku Jiang said, loading the crow Immortal's carcass into his storage ring.

"Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Xiao Nanfeng stored the Immortal's Destruction and walked to his nearby residence. Although the fight had been intense, there were formations everywhere that protected the land from damage. Neither the Vault of Scriptures nor the surrounding buildings had been damaged.

Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui claimed the spoils from their kills, then stood guard outside Xiao Nanfeng's cottage as he meditated.

"Yuanjiao, how are everyone's injuries?" Ku Jiang asked.

"All the elders are hurt to varying extents, but no one died," Zhao Yuanjiao replied.

"You are the Ascended division leader, and I leave you in charge of dealing with the aftermath of this raid," Ku Jiang stated.

"Yes, Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao replied.

Meanwhile, Hong Lie returned to the island. Although there were traces of blood on his body, he didn't seem to be injured. Even so, he was clearly upset. He had failed to catch up to Xiang Pojun and allowed him to run off.

"Hong Lie, let's talk." Ku Jiang motioned at his residence.

Hong Lie nodded and followed Ku Jiang into the hall. Before he departed, he glanced at Nalan Yunhai in disappointment.

Nalan Yunhai, upset and annoyed, left with his subordinates.

As the Taiqing disciples cleaned up the mess in the plaza, they chatted with each other.

"Thank goodness I chose not to take part in Nalan Yunhai's quest. I saw him preparing to run away just now."

"He didn't even care about our lives at all! What sort of elder is he?"

"I heard he had some Immortal relics that he didn't even use. If not for Elder Xiao sacrificing two of his Immortal relics, many of the elders would be grievously injured or dead."

What had transpired during the fight made it obvious whom they should work with.

In Xiao Nanfeng's cottage, as he swallowed the gleaming inner core, tremendous energy filled his body.

"What incredible strength!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

Roiling energy transformed into pure yang origin qi and shot toward his dantian. Golden radiance manifested around his body, igniting into flame. His cultivation was improving rapidly.

Four hours later, a gust of energy was expelled from Xiao Nanfeng's body.

Xiao Nanfeng widened his eyes, but then frowned. "The sixth stage of Spiritsong? Did the crow Immortal consume too much of its spiritual qi before it died? I was expecting a more significant effect..."

Xiao Nanfeng changed his clothes and stepped outside of the cottage, where he found ten elders waiting by his doorstep.

"We greet Elder Xiao." The elders bowed.

"Is there anything I might do for you, elders?" Xiao Nanfeng seemed somewhat confused.

These ten elders were from all four divisions, and he had no affiliation with any of them.

The elders glanced at each other. One smiled. "Elder Xiao, we'd like to thank you for your sacrifice in saving us. We know that you're recruiting Taiqing disciples to reclaim your titled lands. Are you in need of any Spiritsong-realm disciples of the sect?"

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes brightened. "Of course! Are you all willing to accompany me?"

"If you'll have us, Elder Xiao, we would be happy to participate in your expedition. We ask only for equitable treatment and basic amenities."

The other elders nodded. They were thankful to Xiao Nanfeng for saving their lives, and were all willing to lend him their assistance.

"Elders, I am truly thankful for your gesture." Xiao Nanfeng was elated.

He had accumulated a fair bit of strength and power, but who would mind having more?

"The gratitude is ours, Elder Xiao," one elder immediately replied.

Including the four elders who had reached Spiritsong while accompanying him on his draconic vein excavations, there were now fourteen in all who were willing to accompany him to his lands. Xiao Nanfeng suddenly felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He arranged travel plans with the elders, who returned to their own residences to pack up, before heading toward Ku Jiang's hall.

Within, Ku Jiang was deep in discussion with Hong Lie.

"Master!" Xiao Nanfeng announced himself as he walked into the hall.

Ku Jiang nodded at Xiao Nanfeng, then turned toward Hong Lie. "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

Hong Lie sighed, then smiled wryly. "Nalan Qiankun was the one who found the place, and I was only along for the ride. Shouldn't this sort of opportunity belong to those who found it? Who would publicize it outright?"

"It's clear that you weren't the only one who did so. The Xiang clan has found it too—no, they might have found it even earlier. Right before the Taiwu Empire was destroyed, the strongest members of its royal family suddenly went missing. That's where they must have gone. Xiang Pojun's just one of the missing cultivators. The rest must have returned as well. This is no trifling matter." Ku Jiang frowned.

"Could you be overthinking things? If they're all back, why was Xiang Pojun the only one who came here? The other cultivators of the Xiang clan could well be dead."

"Don't be too optimistic about that," Ku Jiang warned.

"Master, has Xiang Pojun not perished?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

Ku Jiang nodded after some hesitation. "Xiang Pojun was only injured, and he managed to flee. Nanfeng, I expect you'll meet significant resistance on your quest to reclaim your titled lands."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"Xiang Pojun's return suggests that other members of the Xiang clan may have returned as well. They've obtained tremendous benefits from the hidden realm, and they're now particularly dangerous."

"A hidden realm? Whose?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Fifty thousand years ago, a three-legged golden crow formed an imperial court of the spirits and was crowned emperor. That empire's expanse swelled to the entire world; it seemed invincible. However, a calamity that struck around the same time caused the imperial court of the spirits to vanish thereafter."

"An emperor of the spirits..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"There's been a persistent rumor that this emperor managed to create a hidden realm and entombed himself within. Others said that he transformed into a cursed effigy and was awaiting his revival in order to take over the world once again. Allegedly, the entrance to this hidden realm is located somewhere within the Taiwu Empire," Ku Jiang continued.

"In other words, the Xiang clan has found the entrance to this hidden realm? Their strongest cultivators all entered the hidden realm, leaving a power vacuum in the Taiwu Empire and enabling its destruction?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened.

"That is what I suspect. Xiang Pojun suffered grave injuries from Hong Lie, but he'll be back to normal in just a few days. Who knows how many other Xiang clan members might have returned in addition to Xiang Pojun?" Ku Jiang frowned.

"Master, you also mentioned that Emperor Tianshu has entered the hidden realm and obtained an opportunity?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.

Hong Lie, by the side, nodded. "That's right. Nalan Qiankun is in control of the entrance to that hidden realm. From the looks of it, though, there are at least two entrances, and Xiang Pojun is in control of one of them."

"The Tianshu Empire will be besieged once more, then..." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"Nanfeng, considering the unrest, I urge you not to return to your lands. The Xiang clan will surely treat it as a target," Hong Lie advised.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head with a smile. "Xiang Pojun isn't enough to scare me. No one will prevent me from reclaiming my titled lands!"