Chapter 340: Who's Going Against Whom?

News of Xiao Nanfeng declaring himself an independent king and founding the kingdom of Dazheng quickly spread throughout the Tianshu Empire, and even to the Immortal sects across the Eastern Sea.

Many Immortal sects had expected such a day would come, but no one had expected it to come so quickly.

The people of the Xiao lands were the first to see this declaration in every city.

Before Xiao Nanfeng came to power, they had led lives marked with fear. Many of them were dead or dying; Marquis Wu's lands had been filled with skeletons scattered about, and nine out of ten homes had been emptied. The people bore the Tianshu Empire no goodwill, and even a fair amount of ill will. Now that times had changed for the better, who would want to return to the days of the Tianshu Empire?

The common people weren't unpatriotic; rather, the Tianshu Empire had been formed as a result of a coup, of rebellion. That it would treat the common people so poorly despite its roots was reason enough to doubt it.

Now, as the common people read about what their new lord had suffered, they were able to empathize with his actions. It was obvious that Xiao Nanfeng would have defected from the empire.

"All hail the Dazheng Kingdom! All hail King Xiao!" one citizen shouted.

Xiao Nanfeng had long since won the hearts of the people, and they all rose up in cheer at that moment.

In a hall of the city where the Xiang clan was currently situated, Xiang Shaoyin sat at the head of the hall as a group of Xiang Immortals discussed the situation fervently.

"King Shaoyin, as you expected, Xiao Nanfeng has declared himself king. The Tianshu Empire and the Taiqing Immortal Sect are about to tear each other apart!" one Xiang cultivator crowed in excitement.

Xiang Shaoyin reached out for a copy of the notice. He scanned it over, then smirked. "In the end, despite all his planning, Xiao Nanfeng's nothing but one of our pawns."

"To King Xiao's eternal wisdom!" the cultivators praised.

They felt that Xiao Nanfeng's declaration of kingship had been forced by Xiang Shaoyin.

"When is Xiao Nanfeng's founding ceremony?" Xiang Shaoyin asked.

"He hasn't decided yet. He's currently in the north of Yongding, smoothing out land in preparation for the foundations of his castle. Looking at the size of the operation, the palace will be extremely large, many times the size of our original," one cultivator reported.

Xiang Shaoyin narrowed his eyes. "That's not a kingdom's palace, but an empire's. He doesn't intend to have a founding ceremony for his kingdom—he's going to ascend it to an empire directly, the Dazheng Empire!"

"The Dazheng Empire? Impossible. An empire's capital is different from that of a kingdom's. An empire would require a draconic vein of immense proportions to nurture the empire's fortune. Yongding only possessed a small draconic vein, one that Xiao Nanfeng has already used up. The land's parched and drained of spiritual energy. How would he nurture fortune there? How would he establish an empire's capital?" one cultivator asked.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling that this kingdom of Dazheng is only transitory. He's intending to establish an empire directly—to construct his palace, offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, amass a sea of fortune, and transition directly into the Dazheng Empire," Xiang Shaoyin replied with certainty.

"Would he know how to found an empire?" another cultivator joked.

"It's irrelevant. As long as I can use him as a pawn to create a schism between the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Nalan Qiankun, he can do whatever he wants. He's not long for this world, at any rate," King Shaoyin replied, laughing.

"Haha!" The group of cultivators also began to laugh, all mocking Xiao Nanfeng for his ignorance.

Just then, a messenger walked into the hall and respectfully proffered a letter to Xiang Shaoyin. "King Shaoyin, Xiao Nanfeng had a letter delivered with instructions to convey it directly to you."

"Oh?" Xiang Shaoyin frowned as he took the letter.

He unsealed it and scanned it, frowning as he did so.

"King Shaoyin, what did Xiao Nanfeng say?" someone asked curiously.

Xiang Shaoyin frowned, then passed the letter over to the gathered cultivators.

The cultivators gaped upon reading its contents.

"Xiao Nanfeng claims that Nalan Qiankun has just fought an all-out battle against Ku Jiang and has been weakened in the aftermath. The strongest cultivators of the Tianshu Empire will be invading Yongding, leaving the capital undefended. That's an opportunity for us!" one cultivator exclaimed.

"Will the strongest cultivators of the Tianshu Empire really attack Yongding?" another cultivator asked.

"Of course. Xiao Nanfeng has declared his independence. If the Tianshu Empire doesn't wipe him out immediately, they would only stoke the flames of rebellion. The other marquises would try something similar then, so the Tianshu Empire's hand has been forced. They'll have to act quickly, too," the first cultivator said.

"King Shaoyin, is Xiao Nanfeng inviting us to ally and take on Nalan Qiankun? What should we do?" The cultivators all looked toward Xiang Shaoyin.

Xiang Shaoyin frowned. If Xiao Nanfeng were right, then it would be a good opportunity to reclaim the Tianshu capital—but was this information accurate?

By the north of Yongding, in a forested and mountainous patch of land, Croak and Warble were shifting mountains and filling up valleys. Smoke and dust filled the air. Countless cultivators were ferrying in materials from all over in an endless stream as a palace was quickly constructed.

Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, Han Bingdie, and Yu'er stood at the peak of a mountain as they supervised the construction from afar.

"You are greedy, aren't you?" Han Bingdie exclaimed. "You're intending to build an empire's foundation right here!"

"I'm establishing a transitory kingdom to pacify the people; an empire is my goal. There's no reason to do things by half measures," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"But Yongding doesn't even have a draconic vein. How do you intend to nurture your empire's fortune?" Han Bingdie asked, confused.

"One will be there when the time comes," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.

Han Bingdie frowned in disbelief.

"Mother, why are you making that face? Do you think Nanfeng's just bragging?" Yu'er asked, somewhat discomfited.

"Founding an empire is no easy task."

"I believe that it won't be difficult for Nanfeng," Yu'er replied confidently. Her eyes shone as she looked toward him.

Even the smallest changes in her daughter's behavior couldn't elude Han Bingdie. Her heart thumped as she said, "Yu'er, have you forgotten what you promised me when you left?"

"Ah? Mother, you're misunderstanding something!" Yu'er replied anxiously.

"Just you wait and see!" Han Bingdie hissed.

Xiao Nanfeng suddenly found that Han Bingdie had grown quite a bit more distant from him than before, and she even strode up between him and Yu'er to wall them off.

Just then, Zhao Yuanjiao called out, "They're here."

"Hm?" Everyone turned to Zhao Yuanjiao,

only to see three figures flying toward them from the horizon:

Nalan Changkong, Cui Haitang, and a robed man.

The three cultivators had already caught sight of Xiao Nanfeng.

"We greet the sect master!"

Zhao Yuanjiao, Yu'er, and Xiao Nanfeng all bowed down. Xiao Nanfeng had seen a portrait of this person before, and he immediately recognized him as the sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Lu Yan.

"Senior Brother Lu, we've been waiting for you for some time. Why have you only arrived now?" Han Bingdie asked, frowning.

"Senior Brother Lu has naturally been investigating Xiao Nanfeng. Don't think that you'll be able to summon him with just a letter, Han Bingdie. You're an elder of the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Xiao Nanfeng killed the left division leader—how could you side with him? Are you betraying the Taiqing Demonic Sect?" Cui Haitang asked, scoffing.

"Cui Haitang, if you continue to slander my name, I'll tear your mouth off!" Han Bingdie glared at the female cultivator.

"Enough! Deal with your grievances with your sect master. Don't air your dirty laundry in public!" Lu Yan shouted.

The two women frowned at each other, but they stopped squabbling.

"Senior Brother Lu, my husband needed to tend to his injuries and was unable to make the trip here. Please administer justice on behalf of me and my sons, Senior Brother!" Cui Haitang bowed deeply toward Lu Yan.

Han Bingdie spoke up as well. "Senior Brother Lu, I've written a letter explaining the situation to you. Ku Jiang has spent all his life in the betterment of the Taiqing Immortal Sect before he fell prey to villains. Please right this wrong, Senior Brother!"

"Sect Master, please administer justice on behalf of my master!" Xiao Nanfeng, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Yu'er bowed deeply.

Lu Yan focused on Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, how long has it been since you joined the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"

"Sect Master, I've been in the sect for four years."

"Four years? Just four years, and you're able to kill Immortals?" Lu Yan demanded.

Xiao Nanfeng bowed. "Might I ask what you mean, Sect Master?"

"Nalan Qiankun said that you weren't Xiao Hongye's son, but rather someone who's been possessed by some cultivator at Yin Body. Is that true?" Lu Yan pressed.

"That's impossible, Sect Master!" Zhao Yuanjiao immediately argued.

"Sect Master, Nalan Qiankun's clearly trying to slander Xiao Nanfeng!" Yu'er cried out.

Lu Yan ignored them. His gaze was fixed on Xiao Nanfeng, as though attempting to examine his very soul directly.

Xiao Nanfeng suddenly started to laugh. "Sect Master, do you mean that I've tricked even my master all this time?"

"That's possible. As a safety precaution, I'd like you to drop your guard and have me examine your body. I'd be able to determine whether you're telling the truth then," Lu Yan said seriously.

"Drop my guard? Allow you to examine my truesoul? Sect Master, even if you're acting for the good or all, I can't simply leave myself vulnerable. What's more, I'm not aware of your stance or temperament. I'm afraid I won't be able to accede to your request," Xiao Nanfeng refused him immediately.

"You're guilty, aren't you, Xiao Nanfeng?" Nalan Changkong shouted in excitement.

"And who are you to speak up here?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted coolly.

"What?"

"I'm the Mortal division leader of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and a sectstarter besides. Even the sect master can't unilaterally deem me guilty, let alone place me in critical danger. You are an outsider and no disciple of the sect. What right have you to interfere with internal sect affairs? Be silent and step back," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"You!" Nalan Changkong thundered.

"Sect Master, I apologize, but your request is too unreasonable for me to fulfill. I have declared and detailed my grudges against the Nalan clan, which you may verify. Without any evidence, however, I urge you not to make hasty decisions. Despite being the sect master, you do not own the Taiqing Immortal Sect," Xiao Nanfeng continued, taking a deep breath.

The crowd gaped at Xiao Nanfeng in astonishment. Was he going against the sect master even before the sect master went against him?