Chapter 328: Slaying Xiang Lianzhen

The blizzard in Xiao Nanfeng's deific domain persisted as all crow spirits in the vicinity fell in the form of ice sculptures. The remainder rushed out of the domain in fear, squawking and cawing ceaselessly outside.

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

"Xiao Nanfeng? Have you already reached Yin Body? And your yin body isn't transparent—you must be disguising it using some spiritual treasure! But the Xiang clan has experts at Yin Body as well. Your deific domain might be potent, but it'll drain your spiritual power quickly, and you can't keep it up for long. If you're here to die, then I'll grant your wish alongside Zhao Yuanjiao. Crow Immortals, attack!" Xiang Lianzhen commanded.

"Kill!" The two crow Immortals shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.

Where they passed through, their wings left trails of fire behind. A sea of fire formed in their wake as they swooped down toward Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes grew cold as he flew into the sky. He waved a hand and beckoned. "Blizzard, to me!"

A blizzard formed around the two crow Immortals,

interfering with their flames and swiftly quenching them. The crow Immortals shivered in fear, but before they could react further, Xiao Nanfeng had already charged up to them. His fist struck like an iceberg. Frosty air surrounded them and exploded like an avalanche raining down, drowning the two crow Immortals within moments. Before they could even scream for assistance, they had been turned into ice sculptures.

"Impossible. How could this frost be so strong?"

"Xiao Nanfeng actually won one on two?"

The crow spirits in the distance were astounded.

Just then, Xiang Lianzhen appeared before him. "What potent frost—but it's nothing I can't handle. Disperse!"

He punched forward in a burst of flame, his fist glowing like the sun. Where it passed through, the blizzard stopped short. Xiao Nanfeng frowned and retaliated with a fist of his own. Both cultivators were forced back from the impact.

This time, however, Xiao Nanfeng's frost didn't manage to freeze Xiang Lianzhen.

To Xiang Lianzhen's back appeared a golden wheel of light, within which burned a bright golden flame. Blistering heat melted the ice all around them. Xiang Lianzhen slapped his palm against the two frozen crow Immortals and freed them. They flapped their wings in shock as they cawed fiercely at Xiao Nanfeng.

"Quintessence of solarfire?" Xiao Nanfeng was astounded.

"You've reached Yin Body within a short period of time and have even developed such potent frost. You're hiding some deep secret, I know it! I'll be claiming it from you today." Xiang Lianzhen's eyes gleamed with light.

"You overestimate yourself!" Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.

"I should think you do. I'll put you on a torture rack until you reveal all your secrets to me. Strike now!" Xiang Lianzhen commanded the two crow Immortals, drawing his sword and slashing at Xiao Nanfeng once more.

"Kill!" The two crow Immortals shot toward Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng flew up toward the enemy cultivator and spirits, armed with his divine undying blade. A blizzard accompanied him. He fought one against three, facing three huge balls of flame.

"Quintessence of solarfire, immolate all in sight!" Xiang Lianzhen slashed at Xiao Nanfeng.

An infinite expanse of golden flame split apart the blizzard. Xiang Lianzhen's attack shot toward Xiao Nanfeng's face. He retaliated with a slash of his own. Light flashed; a howling storm formed where the two attacks met, neither cultivator able to overpower the other.

Just then, the two crow Immortals clawed at Xiao Nanfeng, but the silver barrier around Xiao Nanfeng's body blocked their claws and froze them once more.

Xiao Nanfeng ignored the two crow Immortals as he unleashed his repertoire of attacks on Xiang Lianzhen. The divine undying blade grew stronger and stronger. After several consecutive attacks, the Immortal sword in Xiang Lianzhen's hands shattered.

"What?!" Xiang Lianzhen exclaimed.

"The quintessence of solarfire is strong, but you're ultimately too weak. Now, die!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"No!"

The divine undying blade cleaved Xiang Lianzhen's qi barrier apart—and then his body.

Xiang Lianzhen died on the spot, his blood spraying through the air.

The two crow Immortals had been intending to attack Xiao Nanfeng, but Xiang Lianzhen's death had shocked them enough that they reared back.

Xiao Nanfeng's blade was pointed toward them.

"Flee!" one crow Immortal shouted immediately.

The two crow Immortals scattered in different directions, swiftly followed suit by the crow spirits all around.

"I was too hasty—I scared the crow Immortals away too. What a pity." Regret marred Xiao Nanfeng's face for an instant.

He didn't give chase. Using his yin body and deific domain was indeed particularly draining on his spiritual power, and he might not be able to fight them off in an extended confrontation.

"Senior Brother Xiao, you're amazing!" the Taiqing disciples shouted in shock.

Zhao Yuanjiao relaxed in palpable relief as he saw Xiao Nanfeng remain victorious.

Yu'er, You Jiu, Croak, and Warble had been so distracted by the fighting in the distance that they were unable to concentrate on their own tribulations, and had been injured to some extent as a result. Upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng's victory, they were finally able to calm down and focus entirely on their own trials.

Xiao Nanfeng reached out for Xiang Lianzhen's corpse, within which a small ember of golden flame burned.

"It really is the quintessence of solarfire!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

His silver robes transformed back into gold as he returned to his physical body. He absorbed the golden flame and sent it straight toward his dantian.

He was right about to handle Xiang Lianzhen's corpse when a peach blossom branch appeared in a flash of blue light.

The peach blossom branch hopped up onto Xiang Lianzhen's corpse and injected its roots into it. Xiang Lianzhen's corpse deflated at a rapid rate.

"What? The peach blossom branch is still with me?!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

Another blood peach formed on the branch as Xiang Lianzhen's corpse was drained to a husk.

The peach blossom branch clearly wasn't yet satisfied. It shot toward the frozen crow spirits.

"No, no!" the crow spirits cawed in pain.

However, they were wholly incapable of stopping the peach blossom branch. As the crow spirits were consumed, the peach grew larger.

After absorbing all the crow spirits, the branch flew back toward Xiao Nanfeng. By then, the blood peach had matured. A heady aroma enveloped Xiao Nanfeng.

The branch twisted itself, causing the blood peach to fall into Xiao Nanfeng's hands. Then, it vanished from sight anew.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Had this peach blossom branch decided to hound him too?

He looked around his body, but there was no sign of the peach blossom branch.

"Senior Black Lotus, are you aware of where that peach blossom branch is?" Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly asked.

"It's not a peach blossom branch," the black lotus replied in text.

"What?"

"It's tricking you. That peach blossom branch is an illusory appearance. Its actual body is likely something else entirely, but I'm not sure what it is just yet."

"A trick? Where is it, then?"

"Likely in your mindscape."

"My mindscape!"

Madam Rouge had resided in his mindscape in the past. Was the peach blossom branch able to enter and exit it at will?

"The peach blossom branch is dangerous. Be careful. It can grow stronger by absorbing spiritual power, and has done so by devouring the spiritual power of all these crow spirits."

"Thank you for the warning, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

In the end, there was little he could do about the peach blossom branch at the moment. He took out a jade box and carefully placed the blood peach into it.

As he distilled the quintessence of solarfire, he waited for Yu'er and the others to overcome their heavenly tribulation.