Chapter 327: Life in Calamity

A certain island on the Eastern Sea, protected by a strong defensive formation, was being attacked by countless crow spirits with blazing flames. The formation quaked and trembled, as though it would fall apart at any moment. Within the island were a group of Taiqing disciples that had just experienced a huge battle. They were all heavily injured and paralyzed. They hid within the formation and arduously attempted to keep it up.

In each of the four cardinal directions, some distance away, were dense, dark clouds. Lightning flashed within them and struck four figures within: Yu'er, You Jiu, Croak, and Warble.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao was facing off against two crow Immortals and a hulking man radiating with light.

"Zhao Yuanjiao, don't you think those two cultivators and spirits are foolish? They're trying to advance into Immortals at this stage. Don't they know that the tribulation they have to undergo is even more dangerous than the crow Immortals' threat to you? They're trying to die, aren't they? Even if they were to succeed by chance, they'd be exhausted. The crow spirits would easily take them down, haha!" The hulking man laughed.

Zhao Yuanjiao's body was riddled with scars. As he defended against the three Immortals, he howled, "Xiang Lianzhen, don't you see what's going on? You're being taken advantage of—he's trying to kill me without dirtying his own hands!"

The hulking man, Xiang Lianzhen, smiled coldly. "I'm well aware. I know it was Nalan Changkong's subordinates who divulged your location to me—but so what? I intend on killing you."

"Are you crazy? You know that he's taking advantage of you!"

"The Nalan and Xiang clans have been feuding with each other recently, but so what? I do want to kill you. How many Xiang cultivators did your father kill back in his prime? My brother died to your father's hands, and I've been dreaming of ending your line myself. Once I kill you, I'll announce to the public that Nalan Changkong was the one who revealed your location to me. The whole world shall know that he was the mastermind."

"What?!"

"The Heaven and Earth divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect have been occupied elsewhere, but I'm sure they won't do nothing when they see the Ascended division leader killed by the Nalans. They'll have to return to shore up the sect once they learn that the Tianshu Empire has betrayed them. Nalan Changkong's taking advantage of me to kill you, and kill you I will. That will allow me to create a rift between the Tianshu Empire and the Taiqing Immortal Sect. The Xiang clan will wait to claim its rightful spoils from your fighting." Xiang Lianzhen roared in laughter.

"What a schemer you are," Zhao Yuanjiao spat out.

"Give up now, and I'll give you a painless death."

"I'll go with you, but free the others," Zhao Yuanjiao replied, even as he parried the enemy cultivator and spirits' attack.

"How would that do? If I don't kill you all, I won't be able to rouse the Taiqing Immortal Sect to action. Furthermore, those cultivators and spirits attempting to ascend to Immortality are Xiao Nanfeng's close comrades. If I don't kill them all, he'd never be enraged and seek revenge. Xiao Nanfeng's the Mortal division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, after all. He needs to go crazy if I want the rift between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Tianshu Empire to deepen, haha!"

"You won't succeed!" Zhao Yuanjiao brandished his sword and charged into the sky.

Xiang Lianzheng slashed at him with his own sword, blocking Zhao Yuanjiao's blow.

Your Crescent Blade is powerful, but the Immortal weapon I obtained in the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm isn't weak, either. Don't bother struggling—you won't be able to block us!" Xiang Lianzhen cried out, his sword blazing with flame.

"Die!" the two crow Immortals shouted. They bore down on Zhao Yuanjiao with blazing fire.

Zhao Yuanjiao was rapidly surrounded by flame, as if he were in the midst of a flaming tempest. The frightening blow caused tidal waves to surge across the sea.

"Division Leader!" From within the island's defensive barrier came a series of panicked shouts.

After the massive explosion, Zhao Yuanjiao fell to the ground, his entire body streaked with blood. He struck the side of the defensive barrier. His right arm and left leg had been crippled, and he was so weak that he could barely stand.

"Zhao Yuanjiao, it's clear you can't withstand the combined might of us three Immortals, haha!" Xiang Lianzhen crowed.

"Xiang Lianzhen, have you considered that you'd paint yourself as a target if the Taiqing Immortal Sect were to avenge our deaths?" Zhao Yuanjiao coughed weakly.

Xiang Lianzhen smiled. "Don't worry. I intend to go into hiding before the Tianshu Empire is destroyed. No one will be able to find me. I need only go elsewhere for the time being. Now, die!"

As Xiang Lianzhen laughed, he sent an Immortal sword careening toward Zhao Yuanjiao, falling from the heavens with enough momentum to cleave him in two.

"Division Leader!" countless Taiqing disciples shouted.

Zhao Yuanjiao wanted to avoid the attack, but he was so badly wounded that he was unable to even rise up. His eyes were filled with despair.

Just as the Immortal sword was about to strike Zhao Yuanjiao, a silver figure emerged and stood before his prone body. He punched at the Immortal sword descending from the heavens.

His punch released a burst of bright silver light, striking the Immortal sword directly. A huge shockwave formed from the impact, causing tidal waves to form all around the island. The Immortal sword was sent flying back to Xiang Lianzhen's hand.

Xiang Lianzhen found himself careening backwards as he grabbed the sword. "What tremendous strength! Who's there?"

The waves of energy cleared to reveal Xiao Nanfeng, dressed in silver.

"Nanfeng? What are you doing here?" Zhao Yuanjiao gasped, attempting to clamber up.

"It's Senior Brother Xiao! He's here!"

"No, you mean the Mortal division leader!"

The Taiqing disciples trapped within the defensive formation shouted to each other in mounting excitement.

"Nanfeng!" Yu'er cried out from afar.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at the four cultivators surmounting their own tribulations in the distance. Worry flashed across his eyes.

"Yu'er and the others were being chased by a crow Immortal and had no choice but to trigger the ascension to Immortal-realm to protect themselves. The heavenly tribulation scared the crow Immortal away, but now they'll have to suffer through it themselves without being fully prepared. They're in dangerous straits," Zhao Yuanjiao said wryly.

Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "Don't worry, Senior Brother. Leave the rest to me. Take care of your injuries."

"You're alone, and Xiang Lianzhen has an Immortal sword. He's assisted by two crow Immortals as well. It'll be particularly dangerous," Zhao Yuanjiao said worriedly.

"It matters not. I could take them down at any time," Xiao Nanfeng promised. He turned to the injured Taiqing disciples. "Bring my senior brother into the formation so he can recuperate!"

"Understood!" The Taiqing disciples created an opening in the defensive formation, only to see a large flock of crow spirits swoop down in an attempt to enter.

"Be careful!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out.

"They'll only die," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

A silver moon rose into the sky, causing a blizzard to spawn. The crows were swiftly frozen. They reacted in shock, attempting to struggle, but everything they did was futile. They were transformed into ice sculptures and fell to the ground.

The frost was so intense that the nearby sea even began to freeze over.

"A deific domain? Your main body has reached Yin Body too?!" Zhao Yuanjiao exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng raised his head toward the sky. Naked killing intent poured out from him. "Xiang Lianzhen, I'll kill you!"