Chapter 456: The Netherworld Pope

Xiao Nanfeng dispelled his harmonization and took physical form once again. With a wave of his hand, the silver moon fell from the skies and returned into his body. His domain vanished.

"Come back and help me break this barrier!" the Ox Yanluo roared.

High in the sky, the Yanluo Court which had been right about to smash into Xiao Nanfeng's silver moon turned back and shot toward the starlit barrier.

Just then, Xiao Nanfeng flew over and captured the Yanluo Court with a wave of his seal.

"What?!" the Ox Yanluo roared. "Xiao Nanfeng, return that Yanluo Court to me!"

He pounded the starlit barrier furiously, causing cracks to swiftly propagate throughout its surface.

Xiao Nanfeng blanched, then rushed toward Blue Lantern.

"Follow me!" Blue Lantern shouted.

The two of them headed toward a forest in the distance, then quickly vanished from sight.

"Hold it right there. Get back here!" the Ox Yanluo roared, continuing to pound on the barrier.

Just then, with a whoosh, two figures appeared before him. His eyes widened as he stopped what he was doing.

"Tiger Yanluo? Peach Buddha? What are the two of you doing here?"

If he were free, he naturally wouldn't worry about these two cursed effigies. However, he was currently trapped within Blue Lantern's starlit barrier. As he realized how dangerous the situation was for him, his hair began to stand on end.

The Tiger Yanluo glanced at the 361 stars in the sky, along with the formation of black smoke that had been set up all around him. He exclaimed, "What an impressive formation! Xiao Nanfeng's formations expert must have descended to the abyss as well."

"The Formation of the Complete Heavens? Did Blue Lantern set up this formation? Its strength has increased by a fair amount," the Peach Buddha commented.

The next moment, the Tiger Yanluo and Peach Buddha turned on the Ox Yanluo.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you fighting against each other?" the Ox Yanluo demanded.

He could sense that something was very wrong. He furiously battered the starlit barrier, but was unable to free himself. He began to panic more and more.

"We will fight, but we're no fools. Why let you take advantage? We can divide you up between us first before continuing." The Tiger Yanluo gave the Ox Yanluo a dark smile.

"Indeed! Tiger Yanluo, this starlit barrier is a one-sided shield. It only traps the Ox Yanluo within, and doesn't prevent our attacks from landing. We'll attack and kill him now before he can free himself!" the Peach Buddha exclaimed.

"Attack!" the Tiger Yanluo echoed.

The two cursed effigies shot toward the Ox Yanluo simultaneously.

"No! Save me. Hold them back, now!" the Ox Yanluo bellowed hoarsely.

Countless ox-headed humanoids came flying toward him from all around, but they were knocked back by the combined peach blossom and Yin paper money domains.

No one could prevent the Ox Yanluo's slaughter. His shrill screams quickly rang out across the battlefield.

By then, Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern had reached safety.

By the time they halted, they could see a blaze of fire overtaking the capital of Chou. An incredible tempest had descended on the land, and the 361 stars in the sky were fading away.

"Has the Formation of the Complete Heavens been broken?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"It likely dissipated because of the Ox Yanluo's death," Blue Lantern replied, analyzing the rate at which the stars were fading.

"He deserved it. Of the ten Yanluo Lords, none are worth saving."

"Truly," Blue Lantern murmured.

"Blue Lantern, how did you know where I was? What made you set up a formation there?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Your domain extends for fifty kilometers around, and there was snow and peach blossoms all across the Netherworld Palace. Of course I would notice where you were. Furthermore, your domain wasn't far from where I was to begin with, so I chased after you. I set up the formation while you were attacking the Ox Yanluo. You were both so focused on each other that you didn't notice my presence."

"Is that so? I really have to thank you, then."

"I'm the astronomer of the Dazheng Empire. It's part of my duties," Blue Lantern replied, smiling.

"Oh?"

Although Blue Lantern had joined the Dazheng Empire, he didn't particularly care for being an official in the empire. He intended to stay for the ten years he had promised Xiao Nanfeng before leaving, and even addressed Xiao Nanfeng directly without any honorifics. This was the first time he had acknowledged his position—what was going on?

Just then, another explosion formed in the direction of the capital of Chou, breaking Xiao Nanfeng's train of thought.

The two cultivators looked over to see a Heaven's Hand appear above the capital. It was attacking the cursed effigies in the capital indiscriminately.

"The Ox Yanluo has fallen, and his Yanluo Court has been seized. I wonder who ended up the ultimate victor?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

Blue Lantern fell silent for a moment. Then, he asked, "Xiao Nanfeng, do you want to have a look at Ye Dafu and the others?"

"Oh? Are they still alive, too? Have you been together for the entire month?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed in surprise.

"We are. I was just released," Blue Lantern replied, chuckling wryly.

"Released?"

Blue Lantern sighed. "That's right. I do have to apologize to you. Because of me, you've fallen under surveillance."

"What do you mean?"

"I was released yesterday and given the directive of searching for you. I'm constantly being watched, which means that you've been seen, too."

Xiao Nanfeng's face turned dark. "Just what is going on?"

"I've been forged into a cursed slave again..."

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

He knew that Blue Lantern was particularly unlucky, but this seemed far beyond what was ordinary. How could that be? Was he cursed to suffer whenever he entered a hidden realm?

The moment Blue Lantern stepped into the undying realm, the undying cursed king forged him into a cursed slave. Then, the moment he stepped into the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace, he was caught by the red rope. Now, after he entered the Netherworld Palace, he was forged into a cursed slave—again!

"The cursed king who forged me into a cursed slave has locked up Ye Dafu and the others as well. Of course, this isn't bad news for them. That cursed king wants to meet with you, which is why he permitted me to come find you. If you want to leave with Ye Dafu or free me, I'm afraid you'll have to accept the request."

Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. No wonder Blue Lantern had been so much more polite to him than usual, going as far as to acknowledge his station as official in the empire.

"Who is this cursed king?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"The Netherworld Pope."

Xiao Nanfeng blinked in surprise. The Netherworld Pope? Didn't the ten Yanluo Lords revolt against and kill him a hundred thousand years ago? The Peach Buddha mentioned that the Netherworld Palace was the Netherworld Pope's mausoleum—but could he actually still be alive? Did none of the ten Yanluo Lords know of his existence?

"When were you caught?"

"The night we entered the mouth of the abyss, we were swept away by a windstorm. We were all caught then," Blue Lantern recalled.

Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. Indeed, Blue Lantern really seemed to be cursed with bad luck in every hidden realm he came across.

"Lead me to the Netherworld Pope," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Blue Lantern inclined his head. "I'm afraid it'll be quite dangerous."

"You told me that he has his eyes on me, so I won't be able to run regardless. Now, let's go!"

Blue Lantern seemed to want to say more, but he only nodded instead.

He turned toward the sky. "Netherworld Pope, Xiao Nanfeng has agreed to an audience with you. Would you come fetch us?"

Xiao Nanfeng gave Blue Lantern a curious look. Just where did this Netherworld Pope live? How could Blue Lantern summon him just by shouting into the air?

Suddenly, a large blood-colored cloud formed overhead. The skies rapidly filled with clouds. A heavenly aura of frightening strength descended from the skies. Heaven's Hand reached out and caught them both.

"This is Heaven's Hand! We have to flee." Xiao Nanfeng blanched.

"Don't worry. Don't move. This Heaven's Hand won't hurt us. It's going to bring us away," Blue Lantern said immediately.

"Oh?"

Xiao Nanfeng was discomfited, but he chose to believe in Blue Lantern. He allowed Heaven's Hand to cup him and Blue Lantern in its palm.

The hand curled up into a fist, flew back into the blood-colored clouds, and then vanished.

Xiao Nanfeng discovered that the Heaven's Hand indeed meant him no harm. He breathed out in relief.

Not long later, the hand unclenched and tossed Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern aside none too gently.

Xiao Nanfeng caught his footing immediately, then looked all around him.

Beneath him were blood-colored clouds; above him were blood-colored clouds. There was no horizon in sight, and blood-colored clouds were everywhere he looked. It was as though they were in a huge space bordered by these clouds.

At the center of the sea of blood-colored clouds was a huge pool, within which endless bolts of lightning seemed to spark and flash. The pool looked particularly dangerous.

Twelve copper pillars were erect in the pool of lightning, a small golden cultivator bound to each one.

"Ye Dafu and his lackeys!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

Ye Dafu and his lackeys had been submerged in the pool of lightning. They weren't dead—no, they were screaming.

"Senior, we've all gone numb! It doesn't feel comfortable or relaxing anymore. Why don't you let us go?"

"It's been over a month! We're about to be charred to death. Can't you smell the fragrance drifting from our bodies?"

"No, no more! I'm going limp!"

Ye Dafu and his lackeys continued to shout and beg for freedom, but their eyes were closed in pleasure. The dissonance caused Xiao Nanfeng to shudder.

Were they comfortable or done for? Why couldn't he tell?

Suddenly, bloody fog condensed before him. A face appeared, almost thirty meters tall, and gave off a frightening aura. He fixed his gaze on Xiao Nanfeng.

"You're Xiao Nanfeng?"

The face considered him carefully. His voice was like thunder.

"Xiao Nanfeng of the Dazheng Empire greets the Netherworld Pope." Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow.

The cultivators who had been screaming within the pool of lightning stilled before they looked over at the source of the voice.

"His Majesty is here to save us! Thank goodness!"

"Your Majesty, if you hadn't shown up, we would have died from exhaustion! Please save us!"

"Your Majesty, we're right here!"

The cultivators shouted and beckoned to themselves in relief.