Chapter 486: Mo Lengxuan

A large, fog-wreathed island on the Eastern Sea was home to all manner of spirits flying through the air. Rosy light radiated from the island, striking a large number of halls and other buildings present. This was clearly a cultivation paradise.

Within one of those halls sat Yin Tianci in the seat of honor. He was sipping tea as he talked with a black-clad man before him.

"How are your main body's injuries, Your Highness?" the man asked.

"You're aware of the situation?" Yin Tianci replied.

"All the major forces in the world have a delegation in the Sieve of Heaven, and word spreads quickly there. I learned a little of what happened by chance. You bribed Ao Canghai and threatened Xiao Nanfeng with the Immortal Emperor of Dayin's covenant, forcing him to release your main body. He's spreading news of this matter far and wide."

"Xiao Nanfeng dares scheme against Ao Canghai?" Yin Tianci exclaimed.

"Right. Everyone's aware that Ao Canghai bullies his subordinates, now. He's ruining his reputation!"

"Better this way, I suppose. Serves Ao Canghai right for not splitting any of those rewards with Xiao Nanfeng. He's a pirate who demanded far too much from the divine empire of Dayin! I'd like to watch them take on each other," Yin Tianci hissed.

"Is your main body badly injured, Your Highness?" the black-clad man asked.

"Very. It'll take intense effort over a long period of time to put it back together again."

"Damn that Xiao Nanfeng," the black-clad man cursed.

"In the end, it's the three-headed serpent king who's to blame for not following orders. Otherwise, I wouldn't have suffered to this extent," Yin Tianci said coldly.

"I deeply apologize, Your Highness. The three-headed serpent king only chose to join the Thousand-Spirit Island recently, and I never expected it would suddenly threaten you, lose you your chance to kill Xiao Nanfeng, and lead to your imprisonment." The black-clad man bowed.

"Forget it. You've killed the three-headed serpent king in recompense. The matter is unrelated to your lot or you yourself, Mo Lengxuan. We'll leave things at that."

"Thank you for your clemency, Your Highness."

"Is the lord of the Thousand-Spirit Island not currently present?"

"Unfortunately, he left on urgent business. If you have any requests, Your Highness, I would be happy to serve you."

"I want revenge on Xiao Nanfeng." Yin Tianci's eyes gleamed with killing intent.

"Your Highness, the Immortal Emperor himself promised that he would not seek revenge on Xiao Nanfeng or his affiliated forces. Xiao Nanfeng has publicized this information. If you, the crown prince of Dayin, do take revenge on him, wouldn't the Immortal Emperor's reputation crumble overnight?"

Yin Tiancri grimaced. "My father certainly cannot be a laughing-stock, and the divine empire of Dayin cannot take on Xiao Nanfeng for the time being. But what about other forces? What about the Thousand-Spirit Island, for example?"

"The Thousand-Spirit Island?" Mo Lengxuan furrowed his brows.

"Although you obey Father's requests and perform tasks for Dayin that we can't acknowledge publicly, no one in the world at large knows that you're subordinate to us. Can't you help take on Xiao Nanfeng on my behalf?" Yin Tianci asked expectantly.

Mo Lengxuan frowned. Indeed, this would seem to be within the purview of the Thousand-Spirit Island...

"What sort of revenge do you intend, Your Highness?"

"Xiao Nanfeng himself will likely remain within the Sieve of Heaven for the time being, and you won't be able to touch him. However, his avatar is in the empire of Dazheng. I'm sure you won't have trouble attacking that," Yin Tianci said coldly. "I want to exact a heavy price from him."

"What of the Taiqing sect?"

"The Taiqing sect has connections to a complicated web of forces. You don't have to deal with them," Yin Tianci replied.

Mo Lengxuan considered the situation for a moment. "Your Highness, I'm not familiar with Xiao Nanfeng, but the fact that he was able to cause you repeated problems is an indication that he's far more challenging an opponent than meets the eye. If you wouldn't mind, I can introduce you to an acquaintance who knows Xiao Nanfeng. You might inquire as to his situation from him."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"A disciple of the Taiqing Demonic Sect, Tang."

"The Taiqing Demonic Sect?" Yin Tianci was taken by surprise.

"Have you forgotten about my other identity, Your Highness?" Mo Lengxuan smiled. "I'm the right division leader of the Taiqing Demonic Sect."

"Oh? The Taiqing Demonic Sect? The same sect that..." Yin Tianci exclaimed.

"Indeed, the same sect that separated from the Taiqing Immortal Sect after a schism. I was partially responsible for inciting the schism. Over the past two centuries, I haven't been interested in affairs of the two sects and haven't participated in them. Ultimately, I'm loyal to the Immortal Emperor and not to the Taiqing Immortal Sect. As for Tang, whom I've mentioned, he's the left division leader and enemy to Xiao Nanfeng," Mo Lengxuan explained.

"Xiao Nanfeng's enemy?" Yin Tianci exclaimed.

"That's right. Ever since he joined the sect, they've been at odds with each other. Then, when Xiao Nanfeng began rising through the ranks too rapidly, Tang encouraged the disciples of the left division to assassinate him multiple times, but Xiao Nanfeng resolved the crises each time. Then, Tang joined the Tianshu Empire and came up with plans against Xiao Nanfeng. Unfortunately for him, Xiao Nanfeng was too lucky, and Tang suffered repeated failures. Even so, Tang never gave up. I'm sure that Tang knows Xiao Nanfeng best, and he's not weak. His failures were only due to chance and misfortune. In the end, he became isolated and joined the right division. I haven't employed him since. If you find him useful, I can summon him here to assist you. At the very least, you'll have a more precise understanding of Xiao Nanfeng's abilities."

"Have him come over," Yin Tianci said.

"Very well."

Mo Lengxuan left the pavilion and made arrangements for Tang to show up. He appeared two hours later.

"Division Leader Mo, you requested my presence?" Tang bowed.

"I'm not the one looking for you, but rather this honored guest by my side," Mo Lengxuan explained.

Tang had seen Yin Tianci a moment ago, but he wasn't certain of his identity. He asked probingly, "Is this the crown prince of the divine empire of Dayin?"

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"You know of me?" Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes.

Tang nodded fervently. "I do! I've long since heard of you, Your Highness, but never had a chance to meet you properly. I heard that Xiao Nanfeng, that vile bandit, schemed against you using underhanded tactics, and I've been feeling upset on your behalf since. Your Highness, you're simply too fair and just for the likes of Xiao Nanfeng. He's an underhanded sort, and you should attack him in kind."

"Oh?" Yin Tianci was surprised. Tang seemed like just his sort!

"Your Highness, Tang hates Xiao Nanfeng, so he tries to gather whatever information he can find about him. When he learned that Xiao Nanfeng had headed to Fengdu, he tried to incite the spirits of the Thousand-Spirit Island to assassinate him and steal his treasures, but his cultivation was too low for his ideas to gain any traction. None of the more imposing spirits deigned to listen to him," Mo Lengxuan explained.

"You know what I did in Fengdu?" Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes as he looked toward Tang.

"I'm aware of it all, Your Highness, as well as what I learned from the Sieve of Heaven. I implore you not to treat Xiao Nanfeng with respect. You ought to use extreme tactics against him. His empire of Dazheng should be destroyed! The Nalan couple should have listened to me, or Xiao Nanfeng would never have been able to triumph against them," Tang fumed.

Yin Tianci glanced at Tang's fuming expression and suddenly felt as though he had found a bosom friend.

"You hate Xiao Nanfeng?" Yin Tianci asked.

"I hate him so much I want to skin him alive, eat his flesh, and drink his blood! Your Highness, you don't know how badly he hurt me. If I hadn't been so lucky, I would be done for. Mark my words: one of us will die!"

"Explain how the Thousand-Spirit Island should move against Xiao Nanfeng to hurt him most," Yin Tianci continued.

"Ruin his foundation. Destroy his empire of Dazheng and waste his many years of effort! Make him stew in hatred and misery, then find an opportunity to get rid of him. The Thousand-Spirit Island boasts plenty of strong spirits, and it should be trivial to deal with him. However, you can't underestimate him, either. He has plenty of trump cards up his sleeve, including the red rope cursed effigy and the fortune of his empire. We can't be careless," Tang warned.

Yin Tianci's eyes lit up. Tang sounded more and more ideal as a partner in crime.

"Tell me how you plan on dealing with him in more detail. I want to ensure that no one will know I'm responsible."

"The empire of Dazheng is surrounded by five other kingdoms, all of whom have been eyeing it. Wouldn't it be normal if they were to go to war against Dazheng? At that time, the Thousand-Spirit Island could dispatch a few major spirits to help the neighboring kingdoms against Xiao Nanfeng. No one would know that this was your idea, and it wouldn't be difficult for the Thousand-Spirit Island's forces to quash Dazheng's troops. We can slowly devour Dazheng's territory to prevent Xiao Nanfeng from drawing from his empire's fortune. I want his empire to perish and him to suffer! Once that happens, we can kill him in Yongding, destroying everything that he is and has right in the public eye!" Tang exclaimed, growing more and more passionate as he spoke.

Yin Tianci's eyes lit up. This was the sort of strategy he wanted. It wouldn't expose him, and he would be able to destroy Xiao Nanfeng physically and mentally.

"Very good! Tang, I'm very satisfied with you. Work with me from now on," Yin Tianci said.

"Thank you, Your Highness! I'll be honored to serve as your strategist. We'll lead Xiao Nanfeng to his downfall!" Tang exclaimed.

"Good, very good!" Yin Tianci couldn't be more satisfied with Tang.