Chapter 497: The Palace of the Moon

Within the Hall of Martial Aspects in the Sieve of Heaven, Ao Canghai stepped into a room, his face dark, followed swiftly behind by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.

"It's all Xiao Nanfeng's fault. He spread rumors all over the Sieve of Heaven to malign you, Eastern Aspect! The other three Cardinal Aspects have been making fun of you again. Shall I suppress the rumors?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost frowned.

"Suppress them? How do you intend to do so? Everyone knows that I, the Eastern Aspect, bullied my subordinate Aspects and conspired with the Immortal Emperor of Dayin to force Xiao Nanfeng to release the main body of the crown prince of Dayin. Xiao Nanfeng's not wrong. What good would it do to try to suppress the news now? Do you want the other three Cardinal Aspects to deride me again?" Ao Canghai demanded.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pursed his lips. "Should we let the rumors keep developing, then?"

Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "At this point, we might as well. People will forget about it soon enough."

"Understood!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied. "Eastern Aspect, what should we do about the report that Xiao Nanfeng tendered a few days ago?"

Ao Canghai sat down at a table and retrieved a report. He frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng reported that he suffered an assassination attempt from the spirit kings of Thousand-Spirit Island, an attempt to target the authority of the Imperial Court. He wants me to field a blitzkrieg attack on Thousand-Spirit Island in order to preserve the authority of the Imperial Court..."

"What nonsense," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said. "This is a personal affair between him and Thousand-Spirit Island, and it's hardly as though he suffered as a result. What makes him think he can get away with this?"

"You're aware of what happened?" Ao Canghai asked.

"I am. I had a few subordinates keep an eye on his mortal empire. What transpired was..." The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost recounted what had happened to Ao Canghai.

"His avatar was able to take down a True Immortal by drawing on the strength of his empire?" Ao Canghai frowned.

"We can ignore this shameless petition, can't we?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost asked.

"If I ignore it, he might just spread word tomorrow that I'm neglecting matters pertinent to my station. The Heavenly Emperor will hear of it the next day, and my enemies will blow it out of proportion to attack me."

"Would he really?"

"Although we did gain quite a lot from the Immortal Emperor of Dayin, the majority was handed over to the Imperial Court, and no one would dare criticize me in public. At worst, they might make a few snide remarks in private or shoot me jealous glances, but this petition is, at face value, a critical affair that I do have to handle. If I don't handle it well, he might really escalate it all the way up to the Immortal Emperor."

"Damn that Xiao Nanfeng! He won't let us get away with anything, will he?"

"Xiao Nanfeng's not wrong. The Thousand-Spirit Island should pay for daring to assault a Martial Aspect. Reveal this information publicly and have your subordinates learn more about the situation on Thousand-Spirit Island and in Xiao Nanfeng's empire of Dazheng."

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Ah—surely there's no need for such a fuss? We'd be taking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng's behalf!"

"Who said we would help him take revenge? It's a matter of the Imperial Court's authority. All those who challenge the Imperial Court by attacking its Martial Aspects ought to be killed!"

"But—"

"No buts. Attack first and ask questions later. Thousand-Spirit Island has amassed an incredible wealth of resources. If they refuse to submit, we'll have to take them on by force."

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost's eyes brightened. "Eastern Aspect, are you taking advantage of the opportunity to claim dominion over Thousand-Spirit Island? Do you intend to absorb its resources, too?"

Ao Canghai smiled at the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.

"I understand now. Xiao Nanfeng's petition will provide us with the excuse we need to strike!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smiled, then suddenly frowned. "But if we do so, Xiao Nanfeng will surely get involved. How will we be able to execute the plan without his knowing? Xiao Nanfeng isn't one of us."

Ao Canghai thought for a moment. "The Eastern quadrant is responsible for the Martial Aspects' annual hunt. Let's have it at the Palace of the Moon."

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost cocked his head. What was the relationship between these two subjects?

"Eastern Aspect, the Palace of the Moon was the previous residence of Zhang Lingjun's mother, and Zhang Lingjun herself stayed there in the past. She surely possesses tokens for the residence. Considering her relationship with Xiao Nanfeng, won't Xiao Nanfeng stand to benefit?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost said.

"Stand to benefit? Not necessarily," Ao Canghai replied coolly.

"Oh?"

"Do as I say," Ao Canghai replied, not explaining himself.

"Understood!" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost could only agree.

In a small yard within Xiao Nanfeng's manor, Xiao Nanfeng received Zhang Lingjun as a guest. "Princess, this is Immortal tea from Taiqing Island. Please have a taste."

Zhang Lingjun sat by Xiao Nanfeng's side, taking in the sun as she sipped from the tea. She smiled. "You're leading a rather relaxed life, aren't you? Don't you care about official business? I heard that plenty of cultivators were interested in joining you as subordinates, but you rejected them all!"

"They're all spies that want to get a sense of my situation. I don't intend to employ them," Xiao Nanfeng said, shaking his head.

"It's almost been half a year. You'll have to start taking on the tasks expected of Martial Aspects soon enough. Without any subordinates to assist you, how will you succeed?"

"I'd rather have no subordinates than disloyal ones. Furthermore, don't I have a few hundred cultivators with me here?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"The Earth division disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect? I'm afraid they're a bit weak..." Zhang Lingjun frowned.

"It doesn't matter. We'll take it slowly," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Very well. You really are careful, aren't you? I suppose that's for the best. At the least, all your subordinates are trustworthy." Zhang Lingjun nodded.

"You've advanced considerably since last time, haven't you?" Xiao Nanfeng gave Zhang Lingjun a perplexed look.

"You can tell?"

"Your aura is different. It's like a Heaven Immortal's... Could it be because of the Taiqing Grandmaster's inheritance?"

A few months ago, Zhang Lingjun had been an Earth Immortal—but it seemed that she had since advanced to a Heaven Immortal!

"That's right. The Taiqing Grandmaster's inheritance is truly potent. By the time you embark on your duties, I might be able to provide some assistance."

"I'll thank you in advance, then, Princess." Xiao Nanfeng smiled, then frowned. "Please be careful. It may not be a good idea to advance too rapidly."

Zhang Lingjun nodded. "Don't worry. Once the Heavenly Emperor is out of secluded cultivation, I'll have him inspect my foundation to ensure that nothing's out of place."

"Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Have you heard of the Martial Aspects' hunt?"

"The Martial Aspects' hunt? I heard that quite a few areas in the Sieve of Heaven are sealed because of the presence of strong monsters within. Subduing the monsters will cause them to obey you. These sealed areas are exclusively for the seventy-two Martial Aspects to hunt in, and are collectively known as the Martial Aspects' hunting grounds. One is opened up annually."

"That's right. Are you interested in participating? As long as you subdue these monsters, they won't betray you. If you catch enough, you'll be able to mitigate the lack of subordinates you have," Zhang Lingjun continued.

"Are you interested in this year's hunting ground?"

"It's slated to be the Palace of the Moon, my mother's former residence." Zhang Lingjun sighed.

"Your mother's former residence?"

He had just learned of the location of the hunting ground this year and hadn't had the time to study it in detail. Was the Palace of the Moon related to Zhang Lingjun, then?

"That's right. I lived there as a child, but after my mother perished, the Palace of the Moon was sealed and transformed into a Martial Aspects' hunting ground." Zhang Lingjun smiled wryly.

"I recently investigated your background. I heard that your mother did something grossly disrespectful in the past that has affected your circumstances since. Is that true?"

Zhang Lingjun bit her lip and nodded. "My mother was part of a rebellion. She made it all the way to the Heavenly Palace."

"Truly?" Xiao Nanfeng gaped.

When he first heard of the news, he was astounded. Zhang Lingjun's mother had participated in a rebellion and died right before the Heavenly Palace... The news had shocked the world. A rebellion was high treason against the crown, and countless cultivators had been implicated. In light of this fact, it was incredible that Zhang Lingjun and Zhang Feifan had survived and managed to retain their positions at court.

"I believe that there must be more than meets the eye to this mystery. How could my mother have rebelled? Why would the Heavenly Emperor still treat me so well despite this rebellion? He must know something, but he refuses to tell me what."

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I think your suspicions are valid. What could cause the Heavenly Emperor's own daughter to rebel? There has to be something amiss."

"Do you want to enter the Palace of the Moon? I have an access token. If you lead me inside, I can help you deal with some of the monsters within," Zhang Lingjun offered expectantly.

"Can't you enter on your own?"

"It's a Martial Aspects' hunting ground now, and only the seventy-two Martial Aspects and their subordinates are allowed in. Even I can't enter on my own—unless a Martial Aspect personally leads me inside."

"Do you intend to investigate the cause of your mother's death?"

"I do. I want to have a look in her quarters."

"Can you tell me what monsters might be hidden within?"

Zhang Lingjun was silent for a moment. She grimaced. "Those monsters were all originally humans."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"After my mother's failed rebellion, all her subordinates were cursed by the Heavenly Emperor and transformed into monsters without memory or emotions, then tossed into the Palace of the Moon. As for what they look like, you'll see once you head inside."

She gave Xiao Nanfeng a fervent look.

"Princess, you could easily have asked the other Martial Aspects to lead you inside. That you came to find me means that you must not want to share this opportunity with them; this is a favor to me, in other words. I would be more than happy to oblige." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Zhang Lingjun exhaled in relief. "I don't trust the other Martial Aspects, so I have no choice but to bother you."

"Choose a time. My schedule is free at the moment, so let's go have a look."

"I'm free right now." Zhang Lingjun's eyes brightened.