Chapter 342: Let One of Them Die

Outside Yongding, in a secluded forest, Xiang Shaoyin and a group of Xiang Immortals lay in ambush.

"King Shaoyin, aren't we going to take advantage of the opportunity to attack the Tianshu capital?" one Xiang Immortal whispered.

Xiang Shaoyin was silent for a moment before he replied, "I discussed the matter with my elder brother. Nalan Qiankun has two of the Spirit Emperor's treasures, so we may not be able to take advantage even if we were to attack the Tianshu capital. Furthermore, we don't know if Xiao Nanfeng's words are trustworthy. What we need to do is to clip Nalan Qiankun's wings—to quickly deal with all the Immortals in his employ."

"Yes, King Shaoyin! Once the Tianshu and Dazheng Immortals wound each other, we'll swoop in and deal the Tianshu Immortals a lethal blow," one cultivator shouted, laughing.

Xiang Shaoyin smirked. "We'll wait for them to fight and seize the final victory."

"Understood!" the Xiang Immortals chorused.

Not long later, they saw Lu Yan, Cui Haitang, and Nalan Changkong approach.

"The Taiqing Immortal Sect's sect master, Lu Yan? What's he doing here?" Xiang Shaoyin gasped.

Then, the cultivators gasped again.

"Xiao Hongye's back?!"

Many of them were panicked and flustered. Even after becoming Immortals, they were still deeply fearful of Xiao Hongye given his past prowess.

"No, that's just a fragment of will, not Xiao Hongye himself," Xiang Shaoyin declared.

The cultivators relaxed, then rubbed their eyes anew as Lu Yan transformed into Nalan Qiankun.

"Nalan Qiankun was pretending to be Lu Yan, and Xiao Hongye spotted the deception...? What sort of relationship do these cultivators have?" someone gasped.

"What's going on? Why would Nalan Qiankun have to transform into Lu Yan to deal with Xiao Nanfeng? We all know how strong Nalan Qiankun is. Could he really be seriously injured? Xiao Nanfeng wasn't lying to us!" Xiang Shaoyin exclaimed.

By a mountain peak, Nalan Qiankun made his stance clear. If Xiao Hongye was willing to parley, then so would he. If not, he would do his utmost to kill Xiao Nanfeng immediately.

Xiao Nanfeng himself didn't realize that Nalan Qiankun was so afraid of his father.

Xiao Hongye gave off a thick, cloying aura of killing intent. He glared at Nalan Qiankun and at Cui Haitang. If he weren't preoccupied, he would stop at nothing to rush back and slaughter both these cultivators. He had viewed his bonds of brotherhood with Nalan Qiankun seriously, and had even ceded the empire to him. Who would have expected Nalan Qiankun to end up being such a schemer? Not only had he harmed his wife and son, he had even killed Hong Lie. Could Cui Haitang have done it all herself? Surely not. Nalan Qiankun was responsible, too.

Even so, with him far away and Nalan Qiankun threatening his only son, he had no choice but to swallow all his misgivings.

"How would you like to negotiate?" Xiao Hongye asked.

"Father, the fact that Nalan Qiankun had to impersonate Lu Yan means that he's not confident in his strength at the moment. He must be wounded; I can deal with him," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Xiao Hongye shook his head. "Nanfeng, do not underestimate any of your opponents. If you drop your guard, you could easily suffer."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded, intuiting what was left implicit in his father's words: Nalan Qiankun had particularly strong trump cards up his sleeve.

"Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng calmed down.

Nalan Qiankun glanced at Xiao Nanfeng and suddenly sighed, "If only my sons were like Xiao Nanfeng."

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. What was Nalan Qiankun trying to pull now?

"My son is naturally extraordinary. Nalan Qiankun, how do you intend to settle our business?" Xiao Hongye asked again.

"Our two clans owe each other much in blood, hatred, and vengeance. I don't think an ordinary promise would pacify either of us. Why not have a duel between your son and mine? Only one of them can live," Nalan Qiankun said.

"What?" the cultivators exclaimed.

"Husband, how could you?!" Cui Haitang shouted.

"What a cruel father. Don't you care about whether your own son lives or dies?" Han Bingdie frowned.

Yu'er clutched Xiao Nanfeng's sleeve anxiously.

Nalan Qiankun continued, "Xiao Hongye, is this fair enough for you? If my son dies, your clan will have stripped mine of all its heirs. Your grudge will be settled, your vengeance complete. If your son dies, then the same shall be true for us. Let us sacrifice their lives and terminate any relationship between our clans. What say you?" Nalan Qiankun asked.

Xiao Hongye replied, "Nalan Qiankun, how cold-blooded could you get? Don't you care about your own son's life?"

"I do care. I'm confident that my son can win. I've already lost two sons. If I don't kill Xiao Nanfeng, I wouldn't be able to relieve my grudges. Let our sons end this feud once and for all. Is your son stronger, or is mine? We'll end it all with this fight," Nalan Qiankun said.

Xiao Hongye frowned. If he were to refuse, then Nalan Qiankun himself would attack Xiao Nanfeng. This was a threat that Xiao Hongye could do nothing about.

"What do you think, Nanfeng?" Xiao Hongye looked toward his son.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Father, if you hadn't appeared, I was prepared to attack Nalan Qiankun directly. With you around, I'll hold back. I'll kill his son and claim some interest first."

Seeing his son's confidence, Xiao Hongye could only sigh in exasperation as he nodded. "Be careful."

"Don't worry, Father. I'm stronger than Nalan Qiankun's son."

Xiao Hongye turned to Nalan Qiankun. "Nalan Qiankun, if you wish to send your son to certain death, then have at it—but after my son slays yours, I expect you to drop the matter entirely."

"Don't worry. Regardless of what happens, I intend to retreat. As long as your son respects the boundaries between his kingdom and my empire, I won't cross him. If he tries for more, well, don't blame me if anything were to happen," Nalan Qiankun replied.

"Let it be so, then," Xiao Hongye said.

"Let it be so!" Nalan Qiankun echoed. He turned to Nalan Changkong. "Did you hear all that, Changkong? Didn't you want to take revenge for your brother and uncle? This is your opportunity. Strike at Xiao Nanfeng the way I taught you."

Nalan Qiankun's commandeering tone to his son surprised the onlookers, but Nalan Changkong seemed supremely confident. He nodded. "Yes, Father!"

"Husband! What if—" Cui Haitang began, worried.

"I will brook no doubt," Nalan Qiankun interrupted.

Frustrated though she was, Cui Haitang had no recourse. "I understand."

"Xiao Nanfeng, I'll wait for you up in front!" Nalan Changkong flew toward the sky above a nearby patch of forest.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He felt as though Nalan Qiankun had some devious objective, that he surely had some other plan in mind. There was yet an unknown reason why he had proposed this fight to the death between Nalan Changkong and him.

"Father, I'll be fighting now!" Xiao Nanfeng told Xiao Hongye.

"Be careful," Xiao Hongye warned, eyes full of affection.

"Don't worry, Father!" Xiao Nanfeng smiled and was about to fly off

when Yu'er suddenly called him back. "Nanfeng!"

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Yu'er. She had an anxious expression on her face. Terror filled her eyes; she couldn't help but fear for Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled and consoled her, "Yu'er, have you forgotten? I, Xiao Nanfeng, have never been defeated, and I never will be. Relax!"

He flew into the sky where Nalan Changkong was hovering.

Yu'er wanted to pull him back, but Han Bingdie caught her hand.

In the air, Xiao Nanfeng transformed, his golden robes turning into silver ones as a silver moon appeared behind his head. His deific domain expanded, and a blizzard began to howl. Chilly frost emanated from him.

"Nalan Changkong, for repeatedly harming the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and scheming against me, I hereby announce your execution. Submit to your fate and let me send you off!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

With a wave of his hand, he sent a blizzard straight at Nalan Changkong.

"Fire!" Nalan Changkong shouted, summoning blazing flames against the blizzard.

The blizzard and blazing flames struck each other. The flames blocked the blizzard, and a golden wheel of light appeared behind Nalan Changkong.

"You have quintessence of solarfire?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

Nalan Changkong drew an Immortal sword brimming with flame, then slashed at Xiao Nanfeng. Xiao Nanfeng retaliated with the divine undying blade.

The clash between the two cultivators resulted in a huge explosion of energy. Snow met fire and transformed into steam.