Chapter 444: To Save the World

Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang glanced at each other in surprise.

"Well? Don't you believe that I was trying to save the world?" the blood peach tree asked.

"No, it's simply that..." Xiao Nanfeng was at a loss as to how to describe what he was thinking.

The blood peach tree continued, "The Netherworld Pope had conquered the world, but he was a tyrant of vicious means. He killed all those who opposed him, and the entire world suffered under his rule. Bones scattered across the land, and disasters befell the people. Countless sects wanted to get rid of him and return peace to the world, but he quashed them all. The ten kings who were his subordinates swept across the land, reaping Buddhist, Immortal, and demonic sects alike. The mortal world became a hellscape, and I did what I could to save it."

"That's incredibly admirable, Senior," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Regardless of whether the monk was telling the truth, Xiao Nanfeng would need its assistance. He could hardly refute its words—no, he would have to praise it.

"The Netherworld Pope was evil, as were the ten kings under his command. While he was in secluded cultivation attuning to the Records of Life and Death, at the nadir of his power, they struck. They killed him and sealed his corpse under the eighteen hells of the underworld right here. That's why this place is called the Netherworld Palace."

"So we're in the Netherworld Pope's mausoleum?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed. He looked at the world in miniature around him.

"Indeed. Unfortunately, after the death of the Netherworld Pope came the ten Yanluo Lords. They were as evil as the Netherworld Pope had been, and transformed the entire mortal world into a facsimile of the underworld. They divided the world into ten domains and ruled them together. That year, I secretly stole two pages of the Records in order to counteract them, but unfortunately, I was weaker than they were. I didn't even manage to rebuild my Buddhist sect."

"And then what happened? How did their downfall come about?"

"A heavenly tribulation descends once every ten thousand years. When that happened, the heavens finally dealt with the ten Yanluo Lords. It shattered the eighteen hells of the underworld and destroyed the ten Yanluo Lords' preparation to go against heaven. After sweeping through the evils of the world, it sealed all ten Yanluo Lords here. Because I too possessed pages of the Records, I was destroyed as well. Regardless, I don't regret my actions. I saved the mortal world at large."

Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang glanced at each other. They were understandably skeptical of what the blood peach tree had said, but they could hardly challenge it if they wanted its support.

"I admire your strength in the face of adversity, Senior. However, the ten Yanluo Lords are right about to devour each other and break out of the Netherworld Palace. They'll return to the mortal world and bring disaster to us mortals. We can't allow this to happen, can we?"

"That's why I've been collecting the pages of the Records myself. It was for this reason that I requested the various Yanluo Courts and cursed spiritual avatars from you, but unfortunately, you didn't trust me."

"Senior, I do trust you. However, I'm rather weak at the moment, and I needed these treasures to secure my safety. For instance, if I didn't have two Yanluo Courts in my possession just hours before, I would never have been able to save myself and Yaoguang. Senior, with great power comes great responsibility. It's time for you to make your move," Xiao Nanfeng entreated.

The blood peach tree glanced at Xiao Nanfeng. What nonsense was this? 'With great power comes great responsibility'?

"Senior, the Rabbit Yanluo is aware of your existence, and she'll surely do her best to find you. You will be forced to fight against the Rabbit Yanluo. You have four pages of the Records in your hands right now, Senior. If you defeat the Rabbit Yanluo and claim her spoils as your own, you'll have the strength to take down the Tiger or Ox Yanluos. Senior, your battle against the Rabbit Yanluo is imminent, and we can assist you from the sidelines. However, you'll have to take the lead this time around."

"I'm still too weak. I won't be a match for her."

"Senior, if you don't take the initiative, if the other Yanluo Lords devour the Rabbit Yanluo, then you won't be able to save the mortal world!"

The blood peach tree cursed inwardly. Was Xiao Nanfeng really that naive as to think that it was aiming to save the mortal world? It suddenly realized that it had been too boastful about itself, that it had made itself seem far too perfect. Now, it had no recourse against Xiao Nanfeng's argument.

"Senior, the Rabbit Yanluo is unaware of the extent of your strength, and she believes that you only have two pages of the Records. She doesn't know that you've already claimed the Snake Yanluo's spoils for yourself. You could take advantage of this opportunity to give her an unexpected blow while the Tiger and Ox Yanluos are still in secluded cultivation. Yaoguang and I will help you stop their avatars, and we'll designate the battlefield as the mouth of the abyss. That way, if something unexpected happens, Senior, we can all leave the abyss together. The Yanluo Lords won't be able to give chase, and you'll be perfectly positioned to attack and defend!"

The blood peach tree was silent for a long moment. It only wanted to reap the spoils of war from the backlines, but Xiao Nanfeng seemed intent on pushing it to the forefront. What was it to do?

Eventually, it had no choice but to write, "I accept."

It was tempted, to some extent. As Xiao Nanfeng said, even if it couldn't defeat the Rabbit Yanluo, it could simply escape from the abyss.

"Since you're willing to make a move, Senior, we'll start our preparations immediately," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Xiao Nanfeng was relieved. Persuading the blood peach tree to take center stage would be crucial for what was to follow.

Back in the city of Wuliu, a group of cultivators from the alliance gathered by the ruins of the governor's manor as they discussed what they had observed and heard.

"I saw City Lord Xiao head into the capital of Mao alone and kill five Heaven Immortals. He even devised a scheme to take down two Yanluo Lords, and all but razed the capital of Mao to the ground. He's insane!"

"Those traitors who betrayed City Lord Xiao and decided to support Crown Prince Yin instead can't even get ahold of him now. Those damned fools caused City Lord Xiao to lose faith in us. What are we to do now?!"

"The Netherworld Palace is in an uproar. Perhaps there won't be any cursed effigies guarding the mouth of the abyss during the next full moon. Could we be able to escape then?"

"If only City Lord Xiao were still around to guard us! How much better that would be..."

The cultivators couldn't help but reminisce about Xiao Nanfeng.

Just then, two figures flew over from nearby.

"City Lord Xiao? And Lady Yaoguang?!" someone suddenly cried out.

All the cultivators looked over in excitement.

"We greet City Lord Xiao! We greet Lady Yaoguang!" the cultivators cried out.

"What are all of you still doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"City Lord Xiao, we were guilty about what some of our number did. We didn't realize that there were traitors in our midst, and we caused Lady Yaoguang great trouble. The traitors and those who have decided to side with them have gathered elsewhere. We didn't want to accompany them, so we were hoping that you would show up here. We're all willing to become your followers," one of them said.

"We're willing to become your followers, City Lord Xiao!" the others echoed.

"Followers? We can talk about that later. I'm just here to fulfill the promise that I made to you."

"City Lord Xiao, are you willing to escort us out?" The cultivators' eyes brightened.

"No. I'm here to tell you that none of you are to leave during this full moon. Please inform everyone."

"What? We're not leaving?"

"Please help me find the traitors who betrayed me and Lady Yaoguang to the Rabbit Yanluo. Once we catch them all, I'll escort the rest of you out."

"You intend to seek revenge, City Lord Xiao?"

"Those traitors attempted to kill me with the might of Heaven Immortals and cursed effigies. I naturally intend to seek revenge. If you are willing to obey me, please start searching for them now. I want them dead or alive. I'll return to Wuliu intermittently to check up on your progress."

"Understood!" the cultivators replied.

"Let's leave it at that, then."

Xiao Nanfeng left with Lady Yaoguang, leaving the cultivators of the alliance to consider his proposal.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Some were willing to follow Xiao Nanfeng without question, but others thought less well of him. Clearly, they were only hoping that Xiao Nanfeng would provide them safe voyage out of the abyss and didn't truly intend to obey his commands.

Word of Xiao Nanfeng's imminent revenge quickly spread to all the cultivators of the alliance.

Within a secluded glade, Xiao Nanfeng and Lady Yaoguang were enjoying a feast.

Lady Yaoguang asked, "Do you really intend to seek vengeance against those traitors?"

"Of course. I don't intend to allow them to conspire against us just because they're weak. If we weren't as strong as we were, they might well have doomed us. They need to pay a price for what they've done," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.

"But why did it seem like you were trying to save them, too?" Lady Yaoguang smiled.

"I do want to save those of them that are willing to listen to me. On the night of the full moon, the Rabbit Yanluo will surely blockade the mouth of the abyss. If those cultivators dare to head there then, they'd likely end up dead. After all, some of those cultivators obeyed my orders loyally, and I need to do my part to warn them."

"But your warning wasn't very clear, was it?"

"It was fair warning. I need to repay them for what they've done, but this is all that is warranted. They assisted me with an ulterior motive in mind—but if they're willing to listen to me, they can easily avoid disaster. If they simply want to extract what benefit from me they can while ignoring my words, I don't mind if they perish. I tried to stop them, after all," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"You're right. You've done more than what's fair," Lady Yaoguang replied.

"Furthermore, our words and actions will surely reach the three Yanluo Lords' ears, and I certainly don't want to cause more trouble for myself. We should conserve our energy and prepare for a final assault against the Rabbit Yanluo."

"You're right. Over the next few days, you have to keep making me feasts so that I can stockpile my strength." Lady Yaoguang nodded firmly.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Stockpile your strength? And drain mine at the same time, you mean?