Chapter 369: Decisive Battle at Luoxing

In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng was looking at a report as You Jiu stood beside him.

"The Tianshu Empire has placed a bounty on Mr. Wen, with any clue to his location rewarded with an Immortal relic..." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "It looks like we were right, then. All this is Mr. Wen's doing."

"Nalan Qiankun's response surprised me. To think that he would reveal the truth about his deception with the spectral guards and push all the blame to Mr. Wen! He claimed that all this was a scheme that Mr. Wen devised, that all the Immortals are free to reclaim their relatives at any time," You Jiu said.

"It was the right decision."

"Oh?"

"If he hadn't admitted to the deception, the Immortals would remain unwilling to commit themselves to battle, and the Tianshu Empire would rapidly have fallen. Not only would he have lost his borders, he would even have lost his Immortal subordinates. Only by admitting to what he did, revealing the truth, and earnestly providing redress would he be able to retain some of their support," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Your Majesty, you once said that the Immortals had already lost their loyalty—that it would be difficult for Nalan Qiankun to regain it, and that those Immortals that rescued their families would be easily subverted by our faction. Doesn't Nalan Qiankun realize that?" You Jiu asked.

"He does, but he's chosen to discard all who would do so. Only those Immortals willing to ride out thick and thin with him will remain. He'll suffer tremendous losses—this is part of the genius of Mr. Wen's plan. There's no solution in which Nalan Qiankun doesn't lose out."

"Nalan Qiankun really was decisive, then. Could he be planning some counterattack? With this group of loyal subordinates, will he be able to turn the tables?" You Jiu frowned.

"Regardless of what he's planning, we'll have to claim as much of his territory now as we can. Inform Ye Sanshui to focus on bringing the Tianshu Immortals to our sides. We'll have great success, I imagine."

"Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.

"In addition, have all the spectral guards search for Mr. Wen as well. Sacrifice whatever you need to ensure his safety."

"Understood!" You Jiu replied.

One month later, in the imperial study at Beidou, Marquis Su reported, "Your Majesty, it's been a month, but we still haven't received any news about Mr. Wen."

Nalan Qiankun said coldly, "As expected of Mr. Wen. If he wants to hide, no one can find him."

"A month ago, His Majesty treated everyone honestly and revealed how Mr. Wen schemed against him. The Immortals all fetched their families home, and Dazheng has been trying to turn them against the Tianshu Empire. As you expected, Your Majesty, about a third of the Immortals have turned traitor and sided with Dazheng, while another third left these lands with their families, supporting neither empire," Marquis Su reported.

Nalan Qiankun sucked in a deep breath. "It matters not. A third still remain."

"However, because of others' defection and betrayal, the Tianshu Empire's borders have shrunk massively over the past month. By now, the relative sizes of Tianshu and Dazheng have inverted. Dazheng now controls 70% of the land across the Eastern Sea, while Tianshu controls fewer than 30%," Marquis Su replied worriedly.

Nalan Qiankun continued coldly, "It matters not. The war between Tianshu and Dazheng is not solely reliant on the battlefield at large, but also between me and Xiao Nanfeng.

"Oh? Will you be breaking through shortly, Your Majesty?" Marquis Su asked curiously.

Just then, a huge boom came from the back of the palace. A massive aura rapidly suffused the palace, pressuring the countless cultivators within. The aura then spread throughout the city of Beidou; the whole city felt the mounting pressure.

"The aura of an Earth Immortal? Your Majesty, have you become an Earth Immortal?! Xiao Nanfeng's dead meat now!" Marquis Su smiled in exhilaration.

"The last few months have been stultifying, but I'm ready now. Inform all Tianshu Immortals to prepare to slaughter the Dazheng Immortals alongside me. I intend for all those who have betrayed me to regret their actions, to die a tragic end!" Nalan Qiankun roared out.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Marquis Su cried out.

In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng listened to You Jiu's report. "Your Majesty, an aura of incredible strength was felt emanating from the Tianshu Palace and spread all the way around Beidou. The spectral guards report that that aura went beyond that of an ordinary Immortal. It was likely that of an Earth Immortal."

"So that's what Nalan Qiankun has been up to? Ascending into an Earth Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.

"Nalan Qiankun may attempt to attack you immediately, Your Majesty."

"He wouldn't dare approach Yongding. Monarchs of empires are able to command fortune within their respective capitals and augment their strength to an incredible extent—enough to overcome the disparity between a Human Immortal and an Earth Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng stated.

"Oh?"

"If I'm not mistaken, his first target will be Ye Sanshui and the others. He intends to slaughter the brigade against evil and lure me out of Yongding."

"Your Majesty, shall I warn Marquis Ye and the others at once?" You Jiu said hurriedly.

"There's no need. I've prepared for this and warned them in advance. The sea of fortune around Beidou has been depleting rapidly over the past few days, and I guessed that Nalan Qiankun was absorbing and distilling fortune for a final breakthrough. Inform all Immortals to head to where Ye Sanshui is and prepare to defend against Nalan Qiankun's incursion."

"Word that Nalan Qiankun has become an Earth Immortal will rapidly spread, and those Tianshu Immortals that we've managed to get on our side will likely change their allegiance again. They wouldn't dare meet their former emperor in battle, would they?" You Jiu frowned.

"It matters not. Dazheng needs cultivators who are loyal to its cause, not opportunistic ones who will turn tail the moment trouble strikes. If those Immortals really are so scared that they'd run, then that saves us the effort of filtering them out," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.

"Understood!" You Jiu replied.

A few days later, at the city of Luoxing, which lay near the border between Tianshu and Dazheng, Ye Sanshui was directing forces from the brigade against evil into the Tianshu Empire. After Dazheng had taken it down, it had become the main camp for the brigade. Immortals flew in and out on a regular basis.

By the south of Luoxing, a dozen more radiant lights suddenly shot over. In the lead was Nalan Qiankun.

The Immortals stopped short as a gale blew by.

"Is this the city of Luoxing? I wonder how many of our erstwhile colleagues we'll find. News that His Majesty has become an Earth Immortal has spread across both empires. Those who have betrayed Tianshu must be regretting it now. Some of them asked me for help in regaining their position, but I ignored them all!"

"Do those traitors think they'll be able to make it back? Ha! They should be thankful we aren't rushing to deal with them."

"The Dazheng Empire and this supposed brigade against evil is a joke. So what if they've expanded their territory and secured all these cities? Against absolute strength, all else is but a joke. His Majesty will take them all down. Whichever Tianshu cities they've seized, they'll have to vomit them out after today."

The dozen or so Immortals were in particularly high spirits; their fighting intent surged.

Nalan Qiankun looked toward what lay below and said coldly, "I heard that Xiao Nanfeng was mustering a defense against me with a group of Immortals. Is he intending to face off against me here? What a joke!"

"An enemy attack!" a guard shouted from a watchtower.

Nalan Qiankun's eyes narrowed as he slammed a palm down from afar. The palm strike shot down like a meteorite, smashing the southern watchtower to pieces. A palm-shaped imprint was left on the ground. Although the guards had managed to avoid the attack in time, they were still sent flying as they screamed.

Cries rang out in the city of Luoxing as its defensive formation rapidly activated. Immortal after Immortal flew out to investigate the news.

"There are Immortals under cloud cover!"

"It's Nalan Qiankun! He's come with a group of Tianshu Immortals!"

"Inform the commander-in-chief immediately!"

The Immortals in the city were angry and fearful.

They didn't dare approach recklessly; rather, they flew toward the governor's manor. The Dazheng Immortals gathered outside the manor, Immortal weapons in hand, as they stood guard against the flying mob.

"Where's Xiao Nanfeng? Has he gathered all of you here so that I can send you all to your deaths at once?" Nalan Qiankun asked from high in the sky.

The Dazheng Immortals ignored Nalan Qiankun. Rather, they bowed toward a hall in the governor's manor, from which Xiao Nanfeng slowly emerged in golden draconic robes.

Xiao Nanfeng stood in the courtyard and stared up at the sky. "Nalan Qiankun, do you think it's impressive for you to have demolished a watchtower and frightened a few guards?"

Nalan Qiankun chuckled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, how bold of you to appear in front of me. I'd been intending to lure you out of Yongding. Do you want to die that badly?"

"I've been waiting for you for quite some time, but you were simply too slow. And it looks like you have a rather... limited... number of followers these days," Xiao Nanfeng commented.

"I discarded a few disloyal subordinates, but it doesn't seem like they're with you, either. You don't have many more than I do," Nalan Qiankun retorted.

"Far more than enough to deal with you," Xiao Nanfeng countered.

"Ha! Let's see what you have in store, then. What could empower you enough to dare to appear before me?" Nalan Qiankun asked, poised to make a move.

"Hold on!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"What's the matter? Are you afraid?" Nalan Qiankun sneered.

"No. Rather, I have a few distinguished guests that would like to be present for the show. I ask that you wait a moment so they won't miss out on the opening."

"Distinguished guests?"

"They're here." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the horizon.

From the east came beams of light like shooting stars. Many were clad in the radiant aura of an Immortal. In the lead was none other than the Ascended division leader, Zhao Yuanjiao, and two men accompanied him. Even from afar, they were radiating with strength and clearly exceptional cultivators.

"The Heaven and Earth division leaders?" Nalan Qiankun exclaimed.

"Precisely. These are the distinguished guests I have invited here today. I intend to take down a traitor to the sect and need the four division leaders to bear witness," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

Nalan Qiankun's eyes grew cold.