Chapter 345: Slaying Nalan Changkong

Three more flaming beasts shot over. Xiao Nanfeng slammed down with his purple seal, sending them flying.

"Xiao Nanfeng, quick, let's work together to take down these flaming beasts!" Xiang Shaoyin closed in on Xiao Nanfeng, as did the few remaining Xiang cultivators.

"Work together? Will you be able to do so? Go, flaming beasts!" a voice shouted.

The cultivators looked up at the sky. Nalan Changkong was manipulating the dome and commanding a large number of the flaming beasts to strike at those trapped within. The flaming beasts that Xiao Nanfeng had dispersed had mysteriously revived within the flames.

The beasts rushed over, blazing with malice.

"No!"

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

A few Immortals were instantly drowned in a sea of flame.

Xiao Nanfeng, on the other hand, charged into the sky straight at Nalan Changkong. Countless flaming beasts attempted to intercept him, but his purple seal sent them flying. He grew closer and closer to Nalan Changkong.

"It's pointless!" Xiang Shaoyin shouted from afar. "The dome's barrier is too strong. You won't be able to break out. We destroyed almost ten Immortal relics simultaneously and at the same location, but even that wasn't enough to break the barrier. Your purple seal might be strong, but it's only roughly equivalent to the explosion of three Immortal relics. It won't be sufficient!"

"Did you hear that, Xiao Nanfeng? Why don't you keep hiding in your purple seal? See how long it'll take my flaming beasts to break into it, haha!" Nalan Changkong roared in laughter.

By then, Xiao Nanfeng had already reached the side of the barrier. He clawed forward with his hand.

Nalan Changkong was stupefied. He mocked, "Are you crazy? Do you think you can bypass this barrier empty-handed?"

He was about to laugh again when a hand suddenly caught his leg. Xiao Nanfeng wrenched him within the barrier.

"What? Impossible!" Xiang Shaoyin exclaimed from afar.

He rubbed at his eyes incredulously. How had Xiao Nanfeng pulled Nalan Changkong into the barrier? That was impossible. How had he bypassed it?

"Impossible. No!" Nalan Changkong shrieked.

What awaited him was a strike from the purple seal. In a flash, Nalan Changkong's yin body imploded.

The Tianshu Immortals guarding his physical body beyond the dome were likewise taken aback. They cried out, "Your Highness!"

Unfortunately, Nalan Changkong's yin body had already dissipated. He was done for. Without Nalan Changkong to manipulate the dome, the flaming beasts lost their targets and stood immobile. Then, they vanished within the flames, which grew weaker.

Xiang Shaoyin and the other Immortals were immediately saved. They were hurt all over, but their full attention was to Xiao Nanfeng.

"How did you do it, Xiao Nanfeng?" Xiang Shaoyin exclaimed incredulously.

"Nalan Changkong must have been too unlucky. He fell in on his own," Xiao Nanfeng replied blandly.

Rather, Xiao Nanfeng's cultivation had grown to the point where he was barely able to access the power of the candle cursed effigy that had been grafted to his body, giving him short-ranged spatiotemporal hops. It was easy to use one to drag Nalan Changkong into the dome, though he had no intention of revealing his secrets to others.

"Too unlucky...?" Xiang Shaoyin murmured.

Everything had happened so quickly that no one had seen the situation clearly.

"Changkong!" Cui Haitang wailed from afar.

Held back by Han Bingdie, Cui Haitang had watched her eldest son die without being able to do anything about it. Her eyes had turned red; she was furious.

Suddenly, a huge explosion came from the sky. Nalan Qiankun and Xiang Shaoyang retreated from each other after their first attack. Blood trickled from their lips, as though both of them were heavily injured. Rather than continue to fight, they stared at each other warily, then looked at the battlefield down below.

With a wave of Nalan Qiankun's hand, the Hundred-Beast Flaming Dome soared into the air and into his possession.

"We'll fight another day, Xiang Shaoyang!" Nalan Qiankun shouted.

Xiang Shaoyang frowned. He had been badly injured in the confrontation, and he only possessed one of the Spirit King's supreme treasures. On the other hand, Nalan Qiankun had two. If they were to continue fighting, the situation would be disadvantageous for him.

"Another day, then!" Xiang Shaoyang replied coldly.

Only then did Nalan Qiankun turn to Xiao Hongye, still watching in the distance. "Are you satisfied with how everything has played out, then?"

Xiao Hongye frowned at Nalan Qiankun before he nodded. "As stated, I won't be pursuing any grudges between our clans any longer."

"Very good," Nalan Qiankun replied. He turned and commanded, "All Tianshu Immortals, retreat to the capital!"

"Understood!" the Tianshu Immortals all around chorused.

"Husband, no! You have to avenge Changkong, Yunhai, and Feng'er!" Cui Haitang shouted, breaking free of Han Bingdie as she flew toward Nalan Qiankun.

"We'll talk when we return. Guide the empress back to the palace!" Nalan Qiankun commanded.

The paper figure appeared beside Cui Haitang and tugged on her body. "Dear Sister, let's return to the palace!"

Cui Haitang was unwilling, but she wasn't able to extricate herself from the paper figure. She was dragged away as she screamed herself hoarse.

The Xiang Immortals flew over to Xiang Shaoyang's side. They were all badly injured, and Xiang Shaoyin himself was coughing up an endless stream of blood. He had clearly been hiding the extent of his injuries with willpower alone.

"Brother, something must be wrong. Why would Nalan Qiankun stop attacking us out of nowhere? We can't stay here, ahem!" Xiang Shaoyin coughed out more blood.

"Retreat!" Xiang Shaoyang commanded.

"Understood!" the Xiang Immortals chorused.

The Xiang Immortals and the Tianshu Immortals glanced warily at each other as they left with their respective rulers.

"Let them leave," Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"Understood!" the Dazheng Immortals replied.

The Immortals of both parties flew across the horizon and vanished from sight.

Xiao Nanfeng reclaimed his purple seal and rushed toward Xiao Hongye.

"Father, how's Nalan Qiankun? Why did he leave so suddenly?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Xiao Hongye was glancing in the direction in which Nalan Qiankun had left. His brows furrowed slightly. "He was likely injured to begin with—or perhaps he sustained a heavy blow when he went against the sect master. While he was fighting, he made a few unnatural movements, likely a result of his wounds. Furthermore, something seems to be wrong with the Spirit Emperor's supreme treasure that he possesses. It faltered during a few critical moments."

"No wonder he was in such a rush to leave," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.

"Senior Uncle Xiao, those techniques you gave me pointers on really are amazing. I wouldn't have expected they could deal with cursed effigies! Thank you for the instruction," Yu'er said.

"Some of the Taiqing Immortal Sect's secret techniques were designed to deal with some cursed effigies. Learn them well and you'll surely benefit," Xiao Hongye replied, smiling.

"Got it!"

"You're a good lass. You've been caring attentively for Nanfeng, and you'd be a good wife for him, haha!" Xiao Hongye laughed.

Yu'er instantly flushed red. "That's nonsense, Senior Uncle Xiao!"

"Xiao Hongye, if you dare continue talking nonsense, my husband's going to have a word with you," Han Bingdie shouted.

Xiao Hongye smiled. "Senior Sister Han, you've seen how amazing my Nanfeng is. Look how far he's come in just four years! What do you think he'll be able to achieve in four more? You might well regret your decision in the future."

"Why don't you tell my husband that, Xiao Hongye?" Han Bingdie retorted.

"I will! I'm not afraid of him. Once I return, I'll have a good chat with him. The Xiao clan would gladly accept your daughter's hand in marriage!"

Yu'er's face was still red. She didn't dare speak. However, her mother sounded infuriated. "Insolence! Xiao Hongye, you scoundrel—do you really want my husband to show up and take down the Taiqing Immortal Sect and the Xiao clan along with it?"

"Have him wait for me. I'll talk to him myself," Xiao Hongye announced proudly.

"Come back here, then. I don't want to hear any more of your empty promises!"

"Father, why is your fragment of will growing faint?" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly looked toward his father in worry.

Xiao Hongye shook his head. "I was only able to infuse a limited amount of spiritual energy into this fragment of will, and it's about to dissipate. Just seeing you once is enough to allow me to relax, though."

"Father, make sure to stay safe and sound with Mother. I'll be waiting for you at home!"

As Xiao Hongye's visage grew fainter, he said, "Nanfeng, don't believe what Nalan Qiankun said. Once he recovers, he'll surely try to cause more trouble for you. Why don't you hide and wait for me to return?"

"Father, I intend to continue fighting him. You might have promised to drop your grudges with him, but I made no such promise. Just my suffering this last decade, let alone Mother's, would compel me to act. I can't ignore Senior Uncle Hong Lie's death, nor Master's revenge. I intend to deal with him once and for all," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.

"Once he recovers, it'll be exceedingly dangerous," Xiao Hongye warned.

"Don't worry, Father. I'm aware that he still has trump cards up his sleeve, but so do I. I'm not afraid of him."

Xiao Hongye hummed for a moment before finally nodding. "I'll take your word for it, then. I have a few connections within the Tianshu Empire. They thought me dead, but now that they've learned that I'm still alive, they should be contacting you within the near future. See if any might be useful to you."

"Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Take good care of yourself, alright? Wait for me to return. I like this lass, and I'm sure your mother will, too. Make sure to nab her hand in marriage—this is a task from me to you, understand?" Xiao Hongye smiled.

"Yes, Father!" Xiao Nanfeng grinned.

Then, his figure grew fainter and fainter until it vanished.

"Xiao Hongye, you shameless man! Egging on your son to take advantage of my daughter—just you wait until I get my hands on you!" Han Bingdie roared.

Yu'er's face flushed red. She didn't dare speak, but she was clearly happy to have been recognized by Xiao Nanfeng's father.