Chapter 331: Painstaking

Ye Sanshui understood that Xiao Nanfeng was taking advantage of this opportunity to ensure the loyalty of his forces with a single blood peach. He immediately cooperated and swallowed the peach quickly.

As he absorbed the peach, a dense mass of energy suffused his body all the way to his extremities, tearing apart his bottleneck in the blink of an eye. As though sensing something, his heart suddenly thumped.

"Young Master, I—I think I'm about to undergo a tribulation!" Ye Sanshui shouted in disbelief.

He had already reached the peak of Wingform, but that didn't mean that he would qualify for a tribulation. What Ye Sanshui awaited was an opportunity, a moment of resonance with heaven and earth. Many cultivators were trapped at the peak of Wingform for life, unable to commune with the world and hence to trigger a tribulation. Unexpectedly, this blood peach had immediately triggered such a sensation.

A crackle of lightning shone overhead. Roiling dark clouds formed out of thin air.

"Undergo the tribulation outside the city. Be careful," Xiao Nanfeng urged.

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.

Ye Sanshui quickly flew out of the city, followed swiftly behind by the dark clouds that had locked in on him.

Shortly thereafter, an even larger mass of thick, black clouds gathered outside the city. Lightning crackled. Even from afar, the force of the heavenly tribulation shocked the gathered cultivators.

The various sect masters glanced at Ye Sanshui's figure with envy. That tribulation was something right out of their dreams!

"The tribulation is allegedly very dangerous. Even if you can summon one, you might not be able to survive it. It's a perilous experience."

"I wonder if the blood peach can help a cultivator survive the tribulation, too?"

The sect masters whispered to each other as they considered the scene before them.

A bolt of lightning struck Ye Sanshui. He defended himself with a fist, but the lightning still crept all over his body. Huge wounds formed and sprayed out copious amounts of blood.

Just then, the hazy image of a blood peach appeared from within his body, instantly healing his wounds and revitalizing his energy. He was once again at peak condition.

"The blood peach can even heal a cultivator's wounds and replenish their supply of energy!" someone exclaimed.

Ye Sanshui was repeatedly struck by the heavenly lightning, but whenever he became seriously injured, the blood peach would help heal him of those injuries. Multiple hours later, as the final bolt of lightning dissipated, the dark clouds in the sky turned into radiant clouds that seeped into Ye Sanshui's body.

By then, Ye Sanshui was only a little tired; his body didn't seem particularly injured at all.

"He became an Immortal!"

"A blood peach—is that all it takes?!"

The sect masters couldn't help but eye Ye Sanshui in envy.

Ye Sanshui slowly flew back toward them.

"Thank you, Young Master! I've overcome the heavenly tribulation. As long as I absorb the latent energy in my body, I'll be able to overcome my mortal shackles!" Ye Sanshui exclaimed with gratitude.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Then, Ye Sanshui turned to Ye Shuangcheng. "Did you see that, Second Brother? You've made the wrong decision."

"Did I? It's too early to come to that conclusion. Third Brother, the Tianshu Empire is where you belong. I ask you again: will you accompany me there? Let's head where Ye Dafu is and ascend to ever greater heights in the Tianshu Empire," Ye Shuangcheng urged stubbornly.

"Ye Shuangcheng, listen to yourself! Have you forgotten what Father said back then? Any who betray Marquis Xiao might as well have turned their back on the family!" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.

Ye Shuangcheng looked coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. "That's Xiao Nanfeng, not Xiao Hongye. If you don't want to join Ye Dafu in establishing a land of your own, then forget it. I'll return immediately and bring the Ye clan back to prosperity with him!"

Ye Shuangcheng turned to leave.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Hold it, you—" Ye Sanshui was about to shout for Ye Shuangcheng to stop when Xiao Nanfeng tugged at him on the shoulder, interrupting him mid-shout.

Xiao Nanfeng called out, "Ye Shuangcheng, report to Nalan Changkong that I don't intend to forfeit any of my followers. Ye Sanshui is a general of the Xiao forces. He will not serve the Nalan clan."

Ye Shuangcheng whirled around and eyed Xiao Nanfeng. He snorted and flew off, his guards following swiftly behind him. The retinue left Yongding rapidly.

Seeing Ye Shuangcheng leave, Ye Sanshui anxiously wanted to follow, but Xiao Nanfeng held him still and bade him not speak.

"Sect Masters, I ask that you continue to guard your respective territories, that you not cede ground and hand over the cities that belong to the Xiao clan," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Of course!" the sect leaders replied.

None disobeyed Xiao Nanfeng; they had all seen the tremendous boon that he had bestowed on Ye Sanshui, and they didn't want to miss out on such an opportunity themselves.

The various sect masters left with their disciples as Xiao Nanfeng brought Ye Sanshui back to the Xiao manor.

As they entered, Ye Sanshui asked urgently, "What's going on, King Xiao? How could you have let my brother leave just like that? I still haven't asked him about what's going on with Ye Dafu!"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "Your second brother has worked hard. He might be under duress as well."

"What?!"

"He hinted to us that he would try to find a way to meet Ye Dafu./ We simply have to follow him there."

"What?"

"I promised that I would follow him," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"You did? Did you really have such a conversation? Why wasn't I aware?" Ye Sanshui sounded gobsmacked.

"Absorb the latent energy that those clouds from the tribulation left behind, converting your qi into Immortal qi. Don't worry about anything else; I'll keep a close eye on things," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded fervently.

Days later, within a hall in the capital of the Tianshu Empire, Ye Shuangcheng bowed respectfully toward Nalan Changkong. Beside Nalan Changkong stood a man in purple.

"Your Highness, although those sect masters proclaimed that they would side with Xiao Nanfeng, I believed that they may yet turn to us if we were to approach them in private. However, after that, Xiao Nanfeng took out a blood peach and captured their loyalty by dangling it over their heads. As for Ye Sanshui, he must have gone crazy. I'll continue to contact him. I guarantee that I'll persuade him to join you, Your Highness," Ye Shuangcheng said.

"A blood peach? Xiao Nanfeng must have obtained it within the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm. Perhaps he only has just the one. He's a schemer, isn't he? He took full advantage of this situation to reignite morale among his forces. However, he didn't realize that I had you pay him a visit for a different purpose entirely." Nalan Changkong smiled.

"Ah?" Ye Shuangcheng seemed confused.

The man in purple beside him suddenly asked, "Your Highness, did you intend for everyone to know that you are in conflict with Xiao Nanfeng?"

"Exactly. Do you know why, Marquis Zi?"

Marquis Zi thought for a moment. "Is it because Xiang Lianzhen died at Xiao Nanfeng's hands some days ago?"

"That's right. The Xiang clan knew that I was the one who lured Xiang Lianzhen to kill Zhao Yuanjiao, only to have him perish at Xiao Nanfeng's hands. If you were from the Xiang clan, what would you think about the situation?"

"That you were working with Xiao Nanfeng, Your Highness—and that you were the mastermind behind Xiang Lianzhen's death! The Xiang clan would seek revenge on you!" Marquis Zi exclaimed.

"Exactly right. What about now?"

"Now? Ye Shuangcheng has caused a fiasco in Yongding in your name. The Xiang cultivators will understand that there was no mastermind in Xiang Lianzhen's death, only a culprit: Xiao Nanfeng. If they want to take revenge on Xiang Lianzhen, they simply have to attack Xiao Nanfeng."

"That's right. Xiang Lianzhen's death, Xiang Pojun's death, and even Xiang Qisha's death are all tied to Xiao Nanfeng. Who else would the Xiang clan seek out for revenge?"

Ye Shuangcheng's eyes widened. He exclaimed, "Your Highness, do you intend to have Xiao Nanfeng shoulder all the enmity and grudges that the Xiang clan bears toward you?"

"Just so! Well done, Ye Shuangcheng. I'm very pleased with your performance. I have spies among the Xiang clan. If I'm not mistaken, they'll attack him within the next few days." Nalan Changkong smiled.

Ye Shuangcheng's eyes flashed in panic, but he quickly hid his expression in the guise of a smile. "You truly have planned for every eventuality, Your Highness."

"If Xiao Nanfeng dies to the Xiang clan with this plan, Ye Shuangcheng, you shall be generously rewarded." Nalan Changkong smiled.

Ye Shuangcheng clenched his fists tightly. He sucked in a deep breath. "Your Highness, I dare not claim any reward for what I have done save a meeting with my nephew, Ye Dafu."

"Ye Dafu? He's stubborn and refuses to listen. Why would you want to see him?" Nalan Changkong demanded.

"Your Highness, my nephew's thoughts have been clouded by close proximity to Xiao Nanfeng. He listened obediently to me as a child, and I'm sure I can convince him to work with you. He'll surely be loyal to you ever after, and even help you conquer the world. Your Highness, my nephew is a skilled general, and he would easily be able to help you claim the Xiao lands for yourself."

Nalan Changkong pondered Ye Shuangcheng's proposal and found it reasonable.

"Very well. One chance for you and for Ye Dafu. If you can convince him to listen to my commands, I can allow him to continue serving as General of the East."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Ye Shuangcheng kowtowed again and again. "I'll surely make him listen to your orders and assist you in growing your empire!"

Nalan Changkong glanced disdainfully at Ye Shuangcheng. In his heart of hearts, he had no respect for this cowardly second brother of the Ye clan.

Just then, a guard rushed into the hall.

"Your Highness, we have word from the Xiang clan. Many Immortals from the Xiang clan are headed to Yongding right at this moment!"

"Oh? They've started their invasion, then. I'd like to have a good look at this show." Nalan Changkong's eyes brightened.

"Your Highness, when am I to see Ye Dafu?" Ye Shuangcheng asked urgently.

"Have Marquis Zi bring you there. I have other matters at hand, haha!" Nalan Changkong laughed loudly as he left the hall.

"Thank you, Your Highness! Farewell, Your Highness!" Ye Shuangcheng bowed madly.

After seeing Nalan Changkong off, he bowed toward Marquis Zi. "Marquis Zi, please guide me to my nephew."