Chapter 286: The Divine Emperor's Aid

In one room of the Xiao manor in Yongding, Yu'er was seated cross-legged in meditation when she suddenly sensed someone approaching her. She opened her eyes in surprise to see Xiao Nanfeng closing in—and blushed.

"Nanfeng, I'm in secluded cultivation. What're you doing here?" Yu'er asked.

"I'm here to summon you out of secluded cultivation," Xiao Nanfeng told her seriously.

Yu'er frowned. She sensed that something was amiss. "What's wrong?"

"Senior Uncle Hong Lie is dead."

"What? Who killed him?!"

"Xiang Pojun."

"Xiang Pojun? That's impossible. He's no match for Senior Uncle. How could he have killed him?" Yu'er exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng told Yu'er about his suspicions and his discussion with Zhao Yuanjiao.

"You mean to say that there are other culprits responsible?"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That's right. I intend on figuring out who they are. I apologize for disturbing you, but Yongding's about to be the site of a major battle. I need your help," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Is someone going to attack Yongding? Who?"

"Xiang Pojun."

Yu'er jumped up. "You intend to fight Xiang Pojun? He's an Immortal! To an Immortal, all mortal cultivators are but ants—even if they're at Wingform-realm."

"I know, but I have no choice but to fight. He's coming for Yongding."

"Why would he suddenly attack Yongding?" Yu'er asked curiously.

"It must be because my father killed quite a large number of the strongest Xiang cultivators back in his heyday. The Xiang clan must view me as a nuisance. The only reason they haven't yet attacked is because Senior Uncle was here to defend me. Now that he's dead, the rogue forces that have lost to ours must have complained to Xiang Pojun. It'd be easy to get him to attack me."

"Then you have to run!" Yu'er exclaimed.

"Run? I won't. I have to avenge my senior uncle, and I intend to do it with Xiang Pojun's head."

"He's an Immortal!"

"I know. Emperor Wei's inheritance describes Immortals in some detail, and I know just how strong they are. That said, I do have a slim chance of victory."

"Oh? Have you—could you already have manifested your yin body?"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I'm still not quite there yet."

"How, then?"

Xiao Nanfeng retrieved the divine purple rock, whose appearance had been molded.

"This object looks almost like a seal—an imperial seal?" Yu'er asked curiously.

"It's a purple seal forged from a treasure I obtained from the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace, and I've managed to attune it to some extent, though not completely. There's an internal space within it that can trap an Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.

"You intend to lure Xiang Pojun within?" Yu'er's eyes brightened.

"That's right. I'll deal with Xiang Pojun. While I'm defending against him, you'll strike his body simultaneously, causing him to budge, as I pull him into the internal space of the purple seal."

"But so what if you can trap him? If he sets his sights on you, you won't be able to escape. A moment's carelessness could kill you," Yu'er exclaimed.

"I'll think of a way to delay him."

"Delay him? And then what?" Yu'er didn't want Xiao Nanfeng to take the risk for an uncertain outcome.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He was just about to explain that he still had a trump card up his sleeve when his fingertip trembled. A wisp of black smoke emerged from his storage ring.

The black smoke formed words. "I will aid you."

"What's this?" Yu'er exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes brightened. The Divine Emperor was willing to communicate with him!

"Thank you, Divine Emperor," xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.

Yu'er's eyes widened. She quickly understood what was going on. The cursed king in Xiao Nanfeng's storage ring had just sent him a message. Was it going to help?

Yu'er gasped. "Have you really managed to form a relationship with these cursed kings?"

A day later, the weather outside the city of Yongding was clear and sunny. All seemed peaceful for miles around.

Just then, a tempest descended from the skies.

Howling winds churned up dust and dirt, blowing the common people all about. They fell scattered to the ground.

"Who's there?!" a city guard demanded.

"That's—an Immortal!" a cultivator cried out.

A man with a cape of radiant light emerged, stepping across the sky. He glanced down with an arrogant expression on his face. He was, of course, none other than the Immortal Xiang Pojun.

Beside Xiang Pojun was a group of wounded cultivators.

"King Pojun, that's the Xiao manor. Xiao Nanfeng is surely within!" One cultivator pointed at the Xiao manor in the distance.

"Xiao Nanfeng, show and prostrate yourself to King Pojun!" another cultivator shouted, high and mighty.

"Show yourself, Xiao Nanfeng!" the other cultivators echoed.

Xiao Nanfeng, clad in red, slowly walked out of his manor. He showed no fear; his expression was ice-cold.

"You're Xiao Nanfeng? You look just like Xiao Hongye," Xiang Pojun stated.

He could still remember how the Xiang clan had suffered a terrible defeat at Xiao Hongye's hands. A sudden burst of anger filled him.

"I'm Hong Lie's nephew, as well," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Hong Lie's nephew? You're trying to frighten me with the name of a dead man?" Xiang Pojun chuckled.

"You are no match for my senior uncle. Who else took part in killing my senior uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"What, do you intend to seek revenge for Hong Lie?" Xiang Pojun taunted.

"More or less. Now that you've shown yourself, you might as well stay."

"Haha, you really are an impudent lad, aren't you? Do you think you can do anything against me despite having just reached Wingform-realm?" Xiang Pojun laughed uproariously.

"We'll find out, won't we?"

Xiao Nanfeng leapt into the sky and flew toward Xiang Pojun, who gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. "Do you really think you can take me on?"

An ordinary cultivator would be so scared as to kneel down and beg for mercy. Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, was taking the fight right to him. Something had to be amiss. Xiang Pojun frowned in wariness.

As Xiao Nanfeng flew into the sky, he shouted, "Guards, activate the defensive formation around the city and protect the common people!"

"Yes, King Xiao!" Shouts could be heard from within Yongding. A huge, hemispherical dome formed around the city.

"Please be alright, Young Master!"

"What can we do? That's an Immortal!"

"Can the young master win?"

Many of the common people looked up at the sky in worry.

There were spies from a number of different forces within the city, all of whom thought Xiao Nanfeng crazy to be challenging an Immortal alone as nothing but a Wingform-realm cultivator.

Xiao Nanfeng flew up to Xiang Pojun. "Xiang Pojun, who else was responsible for my senior uncle's death?"

"Lad, you actually dared to fly over here? Who's backing you? Did you have an ambush planned?" Xiang Pojun asked cautiously.

He glanced around him, but even with the senses of an Immortal, he couldn't sense anything amiss.

"That can't be. You must have some incredible relic up your sleeve." Xiang Pojun narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xiao Nanfeng's body.

He didn't think that Xiao Nanfeng would do something so reckless without a plan. For him to be voluntarily approaching meant that he had something that could threaten Xiang Pojun.

"You're quite right. I do have a treasure. I wonder if you can handle it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Oh?"

Xiao Nanfeng extended his right hand. A ring was in his palm. It quivered and floated into the air, whereupon it transformed into a golden bell that flew rapidly toward Xiang Pojun.

"The Divine Emperor's bell?!" Xiang Pojun recognized the artifact immediately.

"You're aware of it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Is this really the Divine Emperor's bell? Allegedly, it can suppress even the Spirit Emperor. It's a relic that even an Immortal has a hard time handling. To think I would be able to seize it from you—haha!" Xiang Pojun roared in laughter.

He snatched at the bell, which tolled once. A golden soundwave struck Xiang Pojun's palm.