Chapter 411: Yaoguang's Transmission

The cursed effigies that had possessed the seven commanders were the strongest, and all Earth Immortals. They tried to run, but Ye Dafu and his lackeys transformed into golden bodies as they held them down and allowed the commanders to beat and batter them.

"Let go! Damn it, let go!" a cursed effigy shouted, slashing at them with his sword.

With a metallic clank, the sword struck Ye Dafu's body but was unable to penetrate it. On the other hand, the sword seemed to be slightly distorted out of shape.

"Boss, these Immortal relics hurt!"

"It's true! Fists don't hurt as much anymore. We should elevate our training to this!"

"When we get back, let's start training with each other using Immortal relics. Strike me with a blade and I'll cut you with a sword. It'll surely be exciting!"

Ye Dafu's lackeys' conversation caused the cursed effigies to gape.

"You're all maniacs!" one cursed effigy howled, slashing at them with his sword. "Die!"

"Oh, this is great! Again!" Ye Dafu called out in excitement.

The cursed effigy: ...

Not far away, Chang Bing and the others glanced askance at Ye Dafu and his crew, their eyes twitching. They moved away from these maniacs as they continued pursuing the cursed effigies. After the cursed effigies perished, their cursed spiritual avatars tried to flee, only to be trapped by large numbers of peach blossoms from all around. Then, the blood peach tree flew over and absorbed their avatars with its roots.

"What's this?" Many cultivators stared at the blood peach tree in a guarded fashion.

"Don't worry. That's City Lord Xiao's friend. You can ignore it!" Ye Dafu called out.

Everyone nodded and returned to killing the cursed effigies.

Not too long later, all the cursed effigies were killed. However, the cultivators didn't celebrate. They looked toward the blood peach tree in shock. All of them had become nothing but fertilizer for the tree!

Afar, Ye Dafu and his lackeys happily returned to the eastern watchtower to reconvene with Xiao Nanfeng. The blood peach tree did the same, tossing him the thirty blood peaches that had just formed before vanishing from sight.

Standing atop the eastern watchtower, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath before exclaiming, "Citizens of Fengdu, the cursed effigies have been repelled. There is no trouble for the time being. The lockdown shall now be lifted!"

"City Lord Xiao is invincible!" a city guard shouted.

"City Lord Xiao is invincible!" the people of Fengdu cheered.

Everyone had witnessed the huge battle that had just taken place. They knew that if Xiao Nanfeng hadn't been there to defend the city, everyone would have perished at the hands of the cursed effigies. They shouted and cheered madly in gratitude. Shockingly, faint clouds of golden light were floating toward Xiao Nanfeng—the people's gratitude made manifest as fortune.

Just then, as Xiao Nanfeng saw Blue Lantern flying over, he immediately asked, "Blue Lantern, are you alright?"

Blue Lantern landed atop the watchtower and nodded. "I am. I picked up a yin body that's looking for you."

Blue Lantern waved his arm. A translucent blue specter emerged from his sleeve, an incredibly weak yin body pitted with holes, which looked like it would dissipate at any moment.

"Senior Uncle Qu?!" Chang Bing exclaimed.

The yin body bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng. "I am Qu Jianfeng. Thank you for freeing me."

Xiao Nanfeng turned serious. "Senior Qu, did you end up being possessed by the Goat Yanluo because you entered the abyss?"

Qu Jianfeng nodded. "That's right."

"And you're familiar with the Martial Aspect that the Tiger Yanluo took over, aren't you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.

Qu Jianfeng glanced up in surprise. On seeing Xiao Nanfeng's gaze, he smiled wryly. "You were able to guess even that?"

"It's not difficult to make such a conjecture. The Goat Yanluo was eyeing the Tiger Yanluo all this time, and I suspect they escaped at around the same time. The death of that Martial Aspect has roused the attention of the Imperial Court, and I have come specifically to investigate this affair. Could you explain what happened?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Qu Jianfeng's face grew pinched. After a moment, he nodded. "Are you aware of how my sister was dragged into the abyss by cursed effigies after giving birth to Yaoguang?"

"I'm aware. The mother of Lady Yaoguang has been possessed by the Rabbit Yanluo, and my senior uncle, Lan Jiguang, has descended into the abyss in search of her."

"At the time, the Shangqing holy land dispatched a group of cultivators in search of her. I was within that group. Unfortunately, the abyss was particularly dangerous, and all who descended perished. I was the only one who escaped. I found a clue about my sister's whereabouts, but no one was willing to believe me when I reported it. I refused to give up, but was unable to do anything until Yaoguang obtained a treasure from the sect master. Only then was my hope rekindled. I intended to descend into the abyss again in search of my sister."

"Oh?"

"However, it would be simply too dangerous for me to go alone. I had to search for a helper, but who would brave the dangerous depths of the abyss with me? Coincidentally, I knew a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court who couldn't let go of his deceased lover. Upon hearing me mention that the abyss contains the Records of Life and Death, which could even resurrect the dead, he decided to venture into the abyss with me to search for it. The Martial Aspect was even willing to drop his cultivation to that of a Heaven Immortal in order to do so."

"Don't you have any acquaintances within the Shangqing holy land? Why didn't you ask them for assistance, but an outsider instead?"

"If my acquaintances knew of my decision, not only would they disagree with it, they would even have stopped me from descending into the abyss."

"Oh?"

"I needed the treasure that the sect master bequeathed in order to be able to safely traverse the abyss."

"Hold on, what did you say? The treasure that the Shangqing sect master bequeathed to Lady Yaoguang? Did you bring her into the abyss, too?" Xiao Nanfeng said chillingly.

Qu Jianfeng grimaced and nodded. "I mentioned it to Yaoguang. When she heard that I was trying to search for her mother, she agreed immediately."

"You deserve to die!" Xiao Nanfeng seethed, as though about to beat him up.

Qu Jianfeng continued, "The Shangqing holy land forbade Yaoguang from leaving its premises. I was the one who snuck her out. She made me promise her that, after we left the abyss, we would come find you so that she could destroy the cursed effigies hounding you. She agreed to head into the abyss not just for her mother, but to see you again."

"Qu Jianfeng, Lady Yaoguang is your niece. How could you put her in such danger? You didn't even inform Lan Jiguang of it!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.

"Only Yaoguang can command the treasure passed down by the sect master, so she had to go. We were intending to inform Lan Jiguang of the matter, but he wasn't in Fengdu at the time."

"Then couldn't you have waited for him to return? What sort of uncle are you?!"

Qu Jianfeng sighed. "It's too late for regrets now."

"What's Yaoguang's situation like?"

"We entered the abyss and found ourselves pursued by two Yanluo Lords. We had no choice but to split up. I and the Martial Aspect lured one Yanluo Lord away each. I suppose Yaoguang must have escaped."

"If she did, surely she would inform Lan Jiguang—and if not him, then at least Chang Bing. She never came to Fengdu, which means she's still in the abyss. She might well be dead—and you are to blame," Xiao Nanfeng accused.

"I—"

"Qu Jianfeng, if anything happens to Yaoguang, I'll kill you!" Xiao Nanfeng seethed.

Qu Jianfeng's eyes lit up. "Xiao Nanfeng, I saw just how strong you were. Why don't you head down into the abyss to look for her?"

"Qu Jianfeng, you bastard! You're trying to get His Majesty killed, too!" Ye Dafu's eyes widened in a glare. He shot forward, ready to kick Qu Jianfeng down, when Chang Bing pulled him back.

"The abyss isn't that dangerous as long as you don't encounter a cursed king. You were even able to handle those two Yanluo Lords, Xiao Nanfeng. I'm sure you can find her!" Qu Jianfeng exclaimed.

"You're still trying to manipulate His Majesty. Die!" Ye Dafu broke free from Chang Bing and kicked forward, but Xiao Nanfeng reached out to hold him back.

"Tell me in detail about the situation within," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"His Majesty, even a Heaven Immortal is likely to die within the abyss, and no one of weaker cultivation has ever made it out. He's luring you to your death!" Ye Dafu fretted.

"I'm aware, but I have my own plans in mind. Don't interfere."

Ye Dafu had no choice but to press his lips together as he nodded.

"Qu Jianfeng, reveal everything now. It's almost daybreak. There isn't much time until the abyss is sealed shut again. You don't have much time. Tell me everything!"

Qu Jianfeng nodded. "Very well."