Chapter 402: Qu Jianfeng

Outside the city of Fengdu, the commanders of the city watched on as a group of golden cultivators underwent a tribulation. They were all silent.

"Didn't that last one get beaten black and blue? How did he suddenly end up triggering a tribulation?"

"These golden lumps of flesh—how did they all become Immortals? Was it from taking our beatings? He's the last one, isn't he?"

"Despite all our efforts, none of them surrendered or called for mercy. No matter how harsh the beating was, they all seemed relaxed afterwards, as if they enjoyed it!"

"Have we been tricked?"

The seven commanders quickly discovered that something was amiss.

Despite the beatings having gone on for over half a month, none of Ye Dafu's lackeys had surrendered. Many even made strange moaning noises during the beating, making the commanders feel as though they were doing something indecent.

With an eruption of energy, the last golden cultivator survived his tribulation. The dark clouds above transformed into radiant clouds that shot into his body.

"How does it feel to be an Immortal now?" Ye Dafu and the others called out.

"Boss, I feel great! I can take on ten cultivators at once!" the cultivator replied expectantly.

"Ten at once? Are you sure?"

"I am! Come on, I promise I won't retaliate."

The commanders stiffened. Had that golden cultivator misspoke? Not retaliating? He couldn't take on ten cultivators, could he? He wanted to be beaten up by ten of them simultaneously! Were these cultivators all maniacs?"

"Commanders, let's continue! If you can force me to surrender, you'll win twenty-five Immortal relics!" Ye Dafu shouted, looking expectantly at the seven of them.

Their faces twitched. Ye Dafu had repeated this refrain over and over, luring them into fighting him repeatedly. They were so tired they were about to collapse. How could Ye Dafu still keep going?

"There must be something wrong with all of you. You were scheming against us!" one commander suddenly accused.

"Scheming against you? How?" Ye Dafu immediately pretended to be innocent.

The commanders didn't know what to say. Indeed, how had Ye Dafu and his crew schemed against them? Were they trying to get the commanders to beat them up? That was ridiculous.

Ye Dafu suggested, "Commanders, you're overthinking things. Actually, you've almost beaten us to a pulp. Our bodies were endowed with energy from a senior of ours that we haven't been able to absorb until now. We've all managed to absorb that energy—that was how we managed to withstand your attacks and advance our cultivation. There really isn't anything else going on."

"Right, why don't you continue beating us? We won't be able to take it much longer!"

"Some of you commanders haven't been using your full strength. If you do so, we'll easily submit!"

"Come beat us, won't you?"

The golden cultivators begging for a beating caused the commanders to take a step back in shock. This was a sinister scene—could these cultivators all be masochists? Were they sick in the head?

The commanders didn't know how to react.

Just then, a cultivator hurriedly flew over.

"Sect Master, the Immortal Emperor has sent an official over to Fengdu. He's right about to arrive!"

"Oh? Let's go have a look!" One commander's eyes lit up.

"Let's go!" the other commanders echoed.

They didn't know how to deal with this group of maniacs; they might as well stay far away for the time being.

"Don't leave! The others can't hurt us. Only the seven of you can make us feel comfortable!" Ye Dafu shouted.

The commanders flew off even more rapidly.

"Boss, all our masseuses are gone. What do we do now?" one of Ye Dafu's lackeys whispered to him.

"Something might be happening outside the city. Come on, we'll go have a look as well," Ye Dafu replied immediately.

"Understood!"

Ye Dafu's lackeys followed him straight toward the heart of the city.

In the plaza outside Fengdu Hall, Xiao Nanfeng and a large number of city officials had gathered to greet a man in an official's robes.

"City Lord Xiao, please wait for a moment. The honored cultivators that His Majesty has dispatched will arrive momentarily. I was sent to provide advance notice," the official said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Chang Bing was pacing restlessly. "Division Leader Xiao, do you think the cultivators sent by the Immortal Emperor will be able to save my master?"

"I can't imagine they'd be weak," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"It's been over half a month since Master headed into the abyss. I wonder if he's alright now..." Chang Bing murmured worriedly.

"Senior Uncle has been training for this, and I'm sure he's alright. If you're still worried, take some time off and go participate in the fight against Ye Dafu and the others. You'll be able to vent some of your emotions, and if you manage to beat him, you can acquire some Immortal relics for yourself, too," Xiao Nanfeng advised.

Chang Bing gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. He had gone to observe the fighting quite a few times over the past few days. Whenever Ye Dafu and the others were beaten, they would groan and moan in a decidedly strange fashion, which made him feel incredibly ashamed. He wanted to keep his reputation intact; he didn't dare participate.

Just then, the commanders flew over. They landed before Xiao Nanfeng and gave him weird looks.

"Have you managed to succeed, commanders?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled at them.

"Xiao Nanfeng, are your subordinates crazy?" one commander asked unkindly.

"What's the matter? Have they gone against the terms of our agreement?"

The commanders were silent. Ye Dafu and the others had kept too closely to the terms of the agreement. When they fought, they bound their hands themselves and allowed the commanders to treat them like punching bags. That was what was particularly sinister!

Just then, Ye Dafu and his lackeys flew over as well.

"We didn't break any of the rules we established. We've been getting along well with the commanders, but they're far too gentle when it comes to fighting," Ye Dafu declared.

The commanders twitched.

Us, gentle? You're crazy!

Just then, a group of eagle spirits appeared over the horizon. A few officials of Dayin rode the eagles, and the largest eagle even had a sedan strapped to its back.

"They're here!" Chang Bing said, his eyes bright.

He flew into the sky to welcome them and motion the eagle spirits to descend by the plaza outside Fengdu Hall.

A group of officials got down from the eagle spirits and considered the cultivators waiting for them. Then, they walked up toward the largest eagle spirit and bowed toward the sedan on its back.

"Sir, we've arrived at Fengdu Hall. Please descend," one official said respectfully.

Xiao Nanfeng and the others glanced curiously toward the sedan. How important was the personage within that the officials of Dayin would treat him so respectfully?

The curtains to the sedan were slowly drawn as a blue-robed, middle-aged man walked out. The man was handsome, his gaze sharp. Meeting his gaze gave the sensation of a divine armament, fearsome and deadly. Though he reined in his aura, he nevertheless exuded a sense of nobility.

"Senior Uncle Qu? What are you doing here?!" Chang Bing exclaimed.

"Qu Jianfeng? How did he end up as an official of the divine empire of Dayin?" The seven commanders glanced at each other in surprise.

Xiao Nanfeng considered the reactions of those around him. Was this cultivator famous? Why did so many seem to know of him?"

"The Immortal Emperor himself has declared Sir Qu acting city lord of Fengdu. All of you, pay respects to your new acting city lord!" one official declared.

"Another acting city lord?" The seven commanders blinked in surprise, then turned toward Xiao Nanfeng in unison. Xiao Nanfeng had spent over half a month trying to stabilize his position in Fengdu, only to suddenly have it overturned. They wanted to see how he would react to this change in fortune.

"Chang Bing, why did you call him Senior Uncle Qu? How do you know him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Chang Bing explained, "This is Master's brother-in-law and Junior Sister Yaoguang's own uncle. He was the one who brought Junior Sister Yaoguang to the Shangqing holy land. The divine empire of Dayin has sought to appoint him as a court official for some time, but he's rejected every offer until now. I don't know why he suddenly accepted."

"Oh? He's Lady Yaoguang's uncle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.

Qu Jianfeng seemed rather unapproachable. He suddenly turned toward Xiao Nanfeng with a steely gaze. "Are you the acting city lord that Lan Jiguang appointed? From now on, the affairs of Fengdu are no longer your business. All shall listen to me."