Chapter 276: Summoning Cursed Effigies

In the city of Jingtao, after the cultivators finished consuming the draconic vein, golden light glimmered from their bodies.

"It's time for us to leave," Xiao Nanfeng suddenly stated.

"Understood!" The cultivators immediately departed from Jingtao.

Within the city, Sect Master Qi, a Wingform-realm cultivator, frowned and sighed.

"Sect Master Qi, what should we do?" one guard asked anxiously.

Sect Master Qi shook his head. "We can't do anything. They're too alert, and I haven't had a chance to launch a sneak attack on them. We'll just have to wait for Cui Haisheng to return."

After Xiao Nanfeng and his group of cultivators left Jingtao, they found a secluded valley within which to distill the draconic aether they had gained in hopes of making a breakthrough to their cultivation.

Everyone had profited enormously from the venture. Draconic aether billowed out from each cultivator as they processed it to improve their cultivation.

After four hours, a wave of energy emanated from Xiao Nanfeng's body.

"The ninth stage of Spiritsong? You're closing in on Wingform, Nanfeng!" Yu'er exclaimed happily.

"It's a pity that we don't have any more time, or I'd excavate all the draconic veins underneath Cui Haisheng's lands," Xiao Nanfeng joked.

"Cui Haisheng must be cursing his luck for having ever crossed you," Yu'er replied, laughing.

"He deserves it!"

"Will Yongding be alright if Cui Haisheng's main body is heading there himself?" Yu'er suddenly asked in worry.

"I invited Senior Uncle Hong to join me at Yongding. What do you think?" Xiao Nanfeng gave Yu'er a sly smile.

Yu'er's eyes lit up. "Cui Haisheng's in for trouble again, then!"

"The Xiao lands will finally be at peace for now," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.

Back in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng's avatar invited Hong Lie back into the Xiao manor.

"I had no choice. Nalan Qiankun isn't someone I can afford to offend, but don't worry. Cui Haisheng won't cause you any more trouble." Hong Lie had a sip of his tea.

"This outcome is more than sufficient for my needs." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"That said, it's rather a waste to have lost Yongding's main defensive formation just to lure Cui Haisheng here," Hong Lie stated, frowning.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Not a waste at all. I've already claimed compensation from him for the destruction of my city's defensive formation."

"You've taken Jingtao's?" Hong Lie exclaimed.

"I have. I only had a limited amount of time, so my main body was only able to reclaim one of his formations, however."

"Haha, well done, well done!" Hong Lie praised, laughing.

"I have you to thank, Senior Uncle. Now, there are no longer any threats remaining in my lands. I'll be able to reclaim it all in no time."

"Don't be too excited just yet. The return of the Xiang cultivators are going to spark conflict between Immortal sects and the Tianshu Empire. All the titled lands of the Tianshu Empire are in chaos. A huge war's brewing on the horizon," Hong Lie stated soberly.

"Senior Brother Zhao also sent word to me that the blackguards have identified many Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea participating in the offensive against the Tianshu Empire," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.

"That's right. The Tianshu Empire has been expanding far too rapidly in the last few decades, and the Immortal sects are feeling threatened."

"Oh?"

"When the Taiwu Empire fell, many rogue forces arose in the aftermath, sponsored by the various Immortal sects. However, the Taiqing Immortal Sect was the one that eventually rose to dominance. Because the Tianshu Empire was initially only a minor source of fortune, the major Immortal sects didn't make a big fuss. In these past few decades, however, the Tianshu Empire has expanded considerably, in large part due to your father's advances. Your father played a significant role in claiming the majority of the empire's land, bringing it from a fledgling force to a major power in its own right. The amount of fortune that it governs has increased significantly as well."

"Causing the various Immortal sects to grow envious of the Tianshu Empire?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Hong Lie nodded. "That's exactly right. It's not just the fortune, either, but the tremendous opportunity afforded by the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm. I've become an Immortal, as has Nalan Qiankun. In fact, your father was the first to become an Immortal that year. The birth of so many new Immortals is threatening to the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea. If the Tianshu Empire is allowed to continue developing at this rate, it might very well become a divine empire."

"A divine empire?"

"Indeed. The Immortal sects weren't able to establish their own empires and stake claim to the fortune that derives from these lands. They certainly wouldn't miss the next opportunity: the Tianshu Empire's advancement into a divine empire, which would give rise to a wealth of fortune. The Xiang clan's return to the world stage and their potential to re-establish their fallen empire has divided the Immortal sects of the Eastern Sea into two factions. One supports the Xiang clan and intends to win merit by helping re-establish the fallen empire to share in the new Taiwu Empire's fortune. The other faction supports the Tianshu Empire and intends to pave its advancement to a divine empire, winning merit by helping quash any rebellion and opposition in their way. Everywhere's a mess right now," Hong Lie concluded.

"It really is a mess, isn't it? I saw a number of sect masters working with Cui Haisheng and was rather surprised." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"The Xiang clan won't take the destruction of the Jingang Temple lightly. You had better watch out," Hong Lie warned.

"Don't worry, Senior Uncle. Rather, I'm afraid your task to quell any rebellions in Marquis Wu's lands won't be as simple as it seems."

"Relax," Hong Lie replied confidently.

"Once I finish handling affairs here, Senior Uncle, please feel free to commandeer some of my forces," Xiao Nanfeng promised.

"Very well! I'll await your support." Hong Lie smiled.

He didn't much need the support, but Xiao Nanfeng's offer did warm his heart.

In the city of Jingtao, as Nalan Changkong returned with Cui Haisheng and was taken aback by what had happened to the city, Cui Haisheng hurriedly attempted to figure out what had happened.

Upon learning that Xiao Nanfeng's main body had taken advantage of Cui Haisheng's hasty departure to excavate his draconic vein and steal his city's defense formation, Cui Haisheng grew so angry that he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Xiao Nanfeng, either you'll die or I will!" Cui Haisheng snarled.

"Uncle, have you forgotten your promise to me? If you continue making trouble for Xiao Nanfeng, won't I become a laughing-stock?" Nalan Changkong warned.

Cui Haisheng frowned. "Changkong, why did you make such a guarantee to Hong Lie?"

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"If I didn't, would he have let you go?" Nalan Changkong retorted.

Cui Haisheng's frown deepened. In the end, he sighed.

"Furthermore, even without Uncle Hong's presence, you likely would have fallen to Xiao Nanfeng regardless," Nalan Changkong continued.

"What? Impossible. Xiao Nanfeng brought his entire group to Jingtao. Who else would be around to defend Yongding?" Cui Haisheng retorted disbelievingly.

"What about the cursed effigies?" Nalan Changkong asked.

"The cursed effigies?"

"Who do you think killed the Jingang disciples at Mt. Swallowtail?" Nalan Changkong asked.

"Wasn't it Xiao Nanfeng?" Cui Haisheng asked. Then, as he thought more deeply, he continued, "No, that can't be. I was holding Xiao Nanfeng's Wingform-realm subordinates back. Only he and that lass could have gone to Mt. Swallowtail—so how did all the Jingang disciples die? Not a single one escaped!"

"Xiao Nanfeng wasn't the one who killed the Jingang disciples. A cursed effigy did so. There's a strong cursed effigy by Xiao Nanfeng's side. You might be able to deal with him, but what about the cursed effigy?" Nalan Changkong asked.

"How strong is it?" Cui Haisheng suddenly grew nervous.

"Even Envoy Ying was killed by that cursed effigy. What do you think?" Nalan Changkong replied.

"What? Even a cursed effigy as strong as Envoy Ying?"

Nalan Changkong stood up and bowed to his back. "Envoy Ying, my uncle's a trustworthy man, and your future plans will require the involvement of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Would you like to meet with him?"

The shadow of a hand climbed out of Nalan Changkong's shadow.It wasn't attached to a body.

"This is Envoy Ying?" Cui Haisheng exclaimed in surprise.

"Cursed effigies can't be killed. Envoy Ying acted prudently and cut a piece of its body off before making a move against Xiao Nanfeng—and that prudence paid off." Nalan changkong turned toward the hand. "Envoy Ying, did you know that Xiao Nanfeng's cursed effigy would be so dangerous? Just who could that cursed effigy be to merit such caution from you?"

The hand was, surprisingly, able to talk. It replied, "Its name is the Divine Emperor. I almost had it in my grasp, but Xiao Nanfeng ruined my plans."

"The Divine Emperor?" Nalan Changkong asked curiously.

"You don't need to know its identity. All you need to know is that it's the cursed effigy that the Spirit Emperor is looking for."

"Very well." Nalan Changkong nodded, then continued asking, "You mentioned that you'll need someone to spread news all over the world on your behalf. Who are you attempting to contact?"

"I should report to the Spirit Emperor now that I've found the Divine Emperor, but the Spirit Emperor should be in secluded cultivation right about now. I intend to wait a little longer. The Spirit Emperor has assigned countless shadow cursed effigies around the world in hopes that they would find traces of the Divine Emperor, and I'll need your help to contact them and announce that the Divine Emperor has been found. They should all gather here and help me capture the Divine Emperor," Envoy Ying replied.

"Don't worry. Although the Taiqing Demonic Sect is waning, we still have disciples scattered all over the world. Passing word will be an easy task," Cui Haisheng promised.

"Very good," Envoy Ying replied with satisfaction.

"I have only one request. Once you capture the Divine Emperor, please help deal with Xiao Nanfeng on my behalf as well.

"Don't worry. The Divine Emperor has its eyes on Xiao Nanfeng's physical body, and Xiao Nanfeng will be dead meat. Of course, if the Divine Emperor doesn't kill Xiao Nanfeng, I will," Envoy Ying promised.

Cui Haisheng's eyes twitched. So Xiao Nanfeng's cursed effigies wanted to kill Xiao Nanfeng too? These cursed effigies really weren't existences to be trifled with.

"Uncle, I trust this will be satisfactory?" Nalan Changkong smiled.

Cui Haisheng nodded, very pleased with what he had learned. "We'll deal with Xiao Nanfeng later, then."