Chapter 326: An Urgent Report

Blue Lantern activated the Dragon Gate. A dragon-shaped coil of white fog spawned, shining with multicolored light.

"Leap through the gate," Blue Lantern commanded.

One blue serpent began flying toward the Dragon Gate. Suddenly, it stopped in mid-air. Its tail thrashed furiously, but it seemed incapable of moving forward. It panicked.

"Why aren't you moving?" Ao Zhou called out.

"King, there's a tremendous pressure coming from the gate. It's like a formless waterfall pressing me down. I'm having a hard time overcoming it," the blue serpent called back anxiously.

Not far away, another serpent cried, "If you can't do it, come back. Let me have a go!"

The blue serpent had no intention of retreating now; if it missed out on this opportunity, it would regret it for the rest of its life. Gritting its teeth, it furiously thrashed its tail, slowly advancing up the formless waterfall. Higher and higher it swam. Because of how much energy it was exerting, its scales were slowly tearing away from its body. Blood spurted all over, but it finally reached the Dragon Gate and passed through the dragon-shaped fog. The fog roiled; multicolored light flashed.

After two hours or so, a dragon's keen could be heard from within.

A giant blue dragon emerged from the fog. The serpent had grown a horn and regrown the scales all over its body. It gave off a particularly imposing aura.

The giant blue dragon howled in excitement.

"Has it really transformed into a dragon?" All the serpents eyed the gate with anticipation.

The dragon flew toward Ao Zhou and prostrated itself. "Thank you, King, for your benevolence and generosity. Thank you, Elder Blue Lantern! Thank you, King Xiao!"

"Very good," Ao Zhou said. "Next!"

The serpents rushed to form a line.

"You'll be in charge of operating the Dragon Gate," Blue Lantern told the recently transformed dragon.

"Understood!" The giant blue dragon immediately took Blue Lantern's place.

The draconic transformation continued as a group of serpents enjoyed the fruits of their success, unbelievably thankful that they had chosen to side with Ao Zhou.

"Dragons are dragons, but these seem a little weak. They might not have much impact on the battlefield," Xiao Nanfeng said, frowning.

"Why don't you supply them with some treasures to help them advance?" Ao Zhou asked Xiao Nanfeng expectantly.

"I don't have any!" Xiao Nanfeng refused Ao Zhou's request immediately.

Ao Zhou really was shameless; he had a large stockpile of treasure of his own, but was still trying to get some from Xiao Nanfeng!

"Xiao Nanfeng, my subordinates are going to join you on the battlefield in the future. Can't you at least help them out? You can't ask them to risk their lives for you otherwise, can you?" Ao Zhou wheedled.

"I do intend to give you something, but you'll have to claim it yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Really?" Ao Zhou was amazed.

He had never been able to wheedle anything out of Xiao Nanfeng before. What was going on now?

Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Blue Lantern. "Has your cultivation recovered, Blue Lantern?"

"I've lost too much of my strength over three millennia in the undying realm, followed by a series of unfortunate events in the draconic palace and here. I'm barely at Immortal-realm at the moment, and only managed to hold the two stronger whale spirits back thanks to my facility with formations," Blue Lantern replied.

"Will draconic veins help you regain your cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Certainly, and I know how to extract them, but ownerless ones are extremely difficult to find."

Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a map of the Eastern Sea. "Some spiritbeast lairs have been marked on this map. There are draconic veins under each one. You'll be able to reclaim and advance your cultivation quickly by absorbing them."

"Oh?"

"There are Immortal-realm spirits guarding each one, but only one or two of them. They've only just recently become Immortals. If you can defeat them, you'll be able to claim the draconic veins within."

Ao Zhou frowned. "What? They're guarded by Immortal-realm spirits? You want us to take them down? What if we can't? Why don't you go with us?"

Xiao Nanfeng glared at the shameless dragon. "Shall I take down these lairs for you and feed you the draconic vein myself, too?"

"Why not?" Ao Zhou replied shamelessly.

"Dream on! Take down these spiritbeast lairs yourself or not at all," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"No, no, I'll go! Of course I'll go," Ao Zhou immediately replied, plastering a smile on his face.

"You want to be a dragon king and rule over the Eastern Sea, don't you? Show your mettle, then. Take this opportunity to practice on these Immortal-realm spirits. Convince them to accept you as their ruler and kill them if they refuse to submit. Then, send those spiritbeast carcasses to Yongding for my subordinates."

"What? Why? They're spiritbeasts that we'll be killing ourselves! Why should we hand them over?" Ao Zhou seemed completely unwilling to do so.

Blue Lantern couldn't stand watching the exchange any longer. "How in the world did the old dragon king give birth to an heir like you? Without this map, how would you be able to find these draconic veins? Xiao Nanfeng could easily have his subordinates lay claim to these veins himself. Why should he help you out?"

Ao Zhou decided that Blue Lantern was right, that if he were to upset Xiao Nanfeng, he would lose his opportunity at the map. He immediately smiled. "I was just joking. You all really don't have a sense of humor, do you?"

Blue Lantern: ...

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Both cultivators glared at the shameless Ao Zhou.

"Blue Lantern, I'll leave the map in your hands. Ao Zhou's shameless and thick-skinned, so I don't trust him," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Blue Lantern nodded. Xiao Nanfeng was right. He carefully kept the map.

"I've summoned the spectral guards to keep in contact with you. Don't stay here for too long in case Cui Haitang launches an attack," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Are you leaving now?" Blue Lantern asked.

"I am. I have an urgent affair to take care of, and have to leave immediately."

"Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.

"Furthermore, Ao Zhou, I hope you'll recuperate fast after your childbirth and start claiming these draconic veins quickly. I have the feeling that we'll be fighting against the Tianshu Empire in no time—no, we already are, but only obliquely. War will be declared soon enough," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"That urgently?" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. Of course it was urgent—otherwise, he wouldn't have handed the sea map to Ao Zhou.

After delegating his affairs, Xiao Nanfeng rushed out of the aquatic barrier.

Having learned of where he was from Blue Lantern, he shot out of the surface of the sea, transformed into his yin body, and flew off urgently in a particular direction, a look of anxiety on his face.

Just now, back in the city of Yongding, within the study of the Xiao manor, Tang had secretly requested a private audience with Xiao Nanfeng.

"Tang, you've done incredible work. How could you have become such a trusted advisor to the crown prince, Nalan Changkong? I heard that he brings you wherever he goes," Xiao Nanfeng joked.

Tang chuckled wryly. "Hardly. He's attempting to control the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect using me as a proxy."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"I don't know what's going on, but Nalan Changkong seems very focused on the left division lately. He's been trying to expand his influence relentlessly."

"The left division leader is dead, and he wants to take over that position for himself."

"What? Cui Haisheng's dead? I heard he became an Immortal! Unless—" Tang gaped at Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "He died right before my eyes."

"King Xiao, you really are incredible!" Tang exclaimed, naturally assuming that Xiao Nanfeng had killed him.

"There are plenty of Immortals in the Tianshu Empire now. Why did you take the risk to come here?"

Over the last few months, as many of the marquises of the Tianshu Empire became Immortals and the capital of the Tianshu Empire shone with Immortal light, quite a few of the Immortal sects that had sided with Xiao Nanfeng harbored doubts about their decision.

Xiao Nanfeng was worried that Tang would exhibit the same behavior.

"Don't worry, King Xiao. I'm well aware of your capabilities, unlike that group of people. I've made my decision and will stick with it," Tang immediately asserted.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "But why have you come to meet with me? I've assigned you a direct contact."

"It's urgent. I'm worried that standard communication might be too slow."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

He knew how cautious Tang was; for Tang to make such a move now meant that he had to be in possession of incredible information.

Tang began, "I heard Nalan Changkong mention that Zhao Yuanjiao has become an Immortal."

"How would Nalan Changkong know?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed in surprise.

Zhao Yuanjiao had kept the information a secret; even he had just learned of it.

"I overheard it unintentionally. One of Zhao Yuanjiao's confidantes must have betrayed him. They've even mentioned that he's ensconced within an Immortal manor filled with opportunities. Nalan Changkong's planning on heading there himself and seizing Zhao Yuanjiao and his possessions."

"What?!"

"I'm not sure about the details. All I heard was that Nalan Changkong promised the traitor that, once Zhao Yuanjiao and the others were dead, he would provide his full support in helping the traitor become an Immortal and the Ascended division leader thereafter."

"A traitor? Very well." Killing intent flashed in Xiao Nanfeng's eyes.

Zhao Yuanjiao was in danger—as was Yu'er, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu, all of whom were at that Immortal manor as well!

"Tang, this was exceptionally important information. Thank you. You can return now—don't let them doubt you," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Got it!" Tang nodded.