Chapter 388: The Tiger Yanluo Lord, Yin

Yin swallowed up the countless demons that had emerged from the abyss in a continuous stream.

His appearance and subsequent actions shocked every cultivator on the battlefield.

"Is Yin really just a Heaven Immortal? This is far too much!" the commanders cried out.

"How strong was the Martial Aspect in the dossier that Zhang Feifan gave you?" Lan Jiguang asked Xiao Nanfeng.

"I don't know. The seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court each have their own trump cards, and no one will expose their true strength without necessity. However, this ability to... devour these demons... couldn't have come from the Martial Aspect's original body. It must be Yin's," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Not too long later, the endless demons that had plagued and caused the cultivators to despair were all devoured.

Yin still seemed unsatisfied. He widened his mouth and continued to absorb the black smoke and demons from the abyss straight into his mouth.

Yin had suddenly become the star of the battlefield. Everyone watched with bated breath as he made his move.

Suddenly, the Heaven's Hand seal released blinding white light. Yin stopped short.

The next moment, the hand forming the seal rushed into the air and held Yin within its palm. A tempest formed around him. An endless supply of moonlight shot toward the giant hand, infusing it with lunar energy.

"The seal of the abyss is targeting Yin now—he's been trapped!" someone cried out.

"Quick, help me rescue Yin!" Commander Lie Yang shouted.

He was the first to rush into the air, slashing at the hand with a sword. The hand released a burst of bright light that sent him flying.

"Isn't that seal meant for the demons? Why would it attack Yin?" Many cultivators seemed confused.

The next moment, another hum came from the abyss. Countless demons surged out. Unlike before, however, these demons wore armor and marched in sync, just like a trained army.

Their ghastly, malevolent aura caused the commanders and their forces to retreat in fear.

A few demons at the back emerged with a huge dragon carriage. It was pitch-black and shining; in contrast with the ragged and tattered demons, it looked ornate and elegant.

The carriage emerged from the mouth of the abyss. Countless demons suddenly knelt toward it, as though showing obeisance to their monarch.

The demon army boasted an incredible aura, to the point that several of the cultivators retreated once more. The Green Battalion, Ye Dafu, and others flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Jiguang in shock.

Just then, the curtain draping one side of the carriage was held aside by a demon dressed like a palace maiden. A woman stepped out from the carriage, wearing a draconic robe with golden motifs on black brocade. A crown of black jade adorned her head. She looked toward the sky, her eyes flashing with pride. Her presence alone gave off an imposing aura that caused others to shrink back in fear.

"Thank you, Tiger Yanluo, for uncovering the seal of the abyss." The female monarch looked toward the giant hand in the air and smiled.

The hand shook and trembled; clearly, Yin was still struggling within.

"How dare you scheme against me, Rabbit Yanluo! You ruined my plans and caused Heaven's Hand to turn against me so that you might escape! Die!" Yin roared.

"Someone has to be the sacrifice, after all. For instance, the Snake Yanluo sacrificed herself for the good of the Dragon Yanluo. Your sacrifice shall benefit me. Doesn't that fit? You'll regenerate soon enough. This time, let me take over the world first." The female monarch, the Rabbit Yanluo, smiled.

With a wave of her hand, demons continued to pour out of the abyss. Struck by the Rabbit Yanluo's authority, all the demons kowtowed and bowed toward her.

The commanders and officials of Fengdu gaped in shock. Yin's appearance was shocking enough; now, a demon monarch had made an appearance. Was Fengdu about to be beset by a crisis beyond compare?

"We have to run!" a commander shouted.

The commanders recalled their subordinates and began to flee.

Xiao Nanfeng himself watched on with bated breath. He suddenly recalled the paper figure that had worked closely with Nalan Qiankun. She was the Snake Yanluo, and had once mentioned the ten Yanluo Lords. Could Yin and the Rabbit Yanluo be two among them? [1]

There had been a Heaven's Hand sealing away one of the ten Yanluo Lords here all this time...

Just then, golden light emerged from between the fingers of Heaven's Hand, illuminating heaven and earth. The hand trembled; Yin was freed. Then, it shot back down toward the Rabbit Yanluo.

"What?" The Rabbit Yanluo met the heavenly hand with a palm strike of her own.

The dragon carriage beside her burst as the Rabbit Yanluo shot into the air to fend off Heaven's Hand. Struck by the palm, she spat out a mouthful of blood. A shockwave of overwhelming strength emanated from the point of impact, instantly causing many of the mountain peaks all around to collapse.

Countless demons were suppressed by Heaven's Hand and lay splayed on the ground, heavily injured. The Rabbit Yanluo wouldn't be able to persist for long. She was pushed back toward the abyss.

"What have you done, Tiger Yanluo? Why would Heaven's Hand free you? This is impossible!" the Rabbit Yanluo howled.

High in the air, a seal of golden light encapsulated Yin, making him look like a font of radiance. However, the seal was immediately starting to crack.

"I have the seal of the Imperial Court of this era. Heaven's Hand will view me as someone with positive alignment and leave me be. Unfortunately, the seal can only be used once, but that's enough." Yin smiled.

"You possessed an official of this era's Imperial Court? How much luckier could you get? No—have you been planning this all along? Are you intending to absorb my demonic forces?!" the Rabbit Yanluo exclaimed.

"It's your fault for scheming against me. I'll happily take control of your demonic forces on your behalf. Rabbit Yanluo, it's time for you to return. Once I finish developing my infernal domain, I'll break this seal then, haha!" Yin laughed.

"No! Die, Tiger Yanluo!" the Rabbit Yanluo roared.

Heaven's Hand shoved her straight back into the depths of the abyss, sealing it shut just like it had been before.

Countless demonic forces turned around and attempted to flee back into the abyss.

"You're all mine now. None of you will be able to get away!" Yin cried out.

With another howl, Yin began to absorb all the demons into his mouth. The demons were unable to struggle at all. His aura grew stronger and stronger.

The commanders who had already fled gasped in shock. Everything had happened far too quickly. Who would have anticipated that Yin would suddenly take control of the abyssal forces in a coup?

Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he looked into the distance. "Senior Uncle, things are going very wrong. Yin looks to be a foe we'll have to contend with. You need to seek assistance from the divine empire of Dayin immediately!"

However, Lan Jiguang didn't respond. He turned to Lan Jiguang, only to find him agitated, his eyes red.

"What's the matter, Senior Uncle?"

To his side, Chang Bing cried out, "Master, I wasn't mistaken, was I? Wasn't that your wife?"

"It is her!" Lan Jiguang's eyes welled with tears.

"The Rabbit Yanluo? She's possessed Senior Uncle's wife?!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"It is her! She really is still alive—only possessed by a cursed effigy!" Lan Jiguang cried out, wiping away his tears.

"But the Rabbit Yanluo seems particularly strong. Are you certain your wife still retains her will?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with concern.

Lan Jiguang sucked in a deep breath. "I'm concerned as well. From their earlier conversation, I know that there has to be at least one Yanluo Lord within this abyss, and they're scheming against each other. The Rabbit Yanluo must have been heavily wounded after being slammed back into the abyss by Heaven's Hand. I need to head down there in search of my wife!"

"Senior Uncle, you're only an Earth Immortal. Weren't you going to wait until you became a Heaven Immortal first?" Xiao Nanfeng immediately advised.

Lan Jiguang shook his head. "There's no time. I'm certain that, if I were to miss this opportunity, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I might not be a Heaven Immortal just yet, but I have the Taiqing Red Moon. If I can't defeat my opponents, my yin body will retreat to the red moon illusory realm. At worst, I'll discard my physical body."

"Senior Uncle, your physical body really might not be able to make it back..." Xiao Nanfeng warned.

"I know, but I don't care!" Lan Jiguang replied.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't know what else to say.

"Master, if you head down there, what will we do? You can't go!" Chang Bing fretted.

"Green Battalion, listen up!" Lan Jiguang suddenly shouted.

"Present!" all the members of the Green Battalion replied.

"From now on, before I return, Xiao Nanfeng will be in charge of the Green Battalion and the Earth division. Everyone is to listen to his orders."

"What? Xiao Nanfeng, in charge of the Earth division?" Chang Bing exclaimed.

"Do you understand?" Lan Jiguang demanded.

"Understood!" Chang Bing and the members of the Green Battalion replied, somewhat despondent.

Lan Jiguang then turned to Fengdu and commanded, "People of Fengdu, your lord, Lan Jiguang, will be temporarily unable to defend Fengdu for the moment. Henceforth, I declare the ninth commander, Xiao Nanfeng, acting city lord of Fengdu, with full authority over all matters of lordship!"

The commanders fleeing toward the city gave Lan Jiguang astonished looks. The officials and people of the city, however, immediately replied in the affirmative.

Lan Jiguang turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, I trust your judgment and approach for handling things, and Chang Bing won't be able to deal with all those commanders. If I don't return, please have the sect master come handle the affairs of the earth division. I'm counting on you."

Xiao Nanfeng, knowing that he wouldn't be able to stop Lan Jiguang, sighed and nodded. "I'll do what I can."

"Thank you."

Then, Lan Jiguang handed him a storage bangle. "The tokens and seals of the city lord and the Earth division leader are here. Again, thank you."

Then, Lan Jiguang rushed straight toward the abyss.

"Master!" Chang Bing cried out anxiously.

However, Lan Jiguang ignored him. He jumped down into the abyss and vanished from sight.

1. Apparently the ten Yanluo Lords are associated with the twelve zodiac animals. The twelve zodiac animals can be divided into six pairs by proximity; the snake and dragon form a pair, as do the rabbit and tiger, and so on. Each member of a pair counters the other. It's unclear why there are two fewer Yanluo Lords than zodiac animals at present. ☜