Chapter 499: You'll Pay For My Injuries

The six golden arhats fought against the six purple-furred monsters. The resulting commotion formed sound waves that emanated from the scene of the fight.

Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun quickly noticed that various cultivators were being attracted to the scene, but they were cautiously skulking about and were unwilling to show themselves.

"There are plenty of people here now. I'm sure they wouldn't dare attack me in this situation. Let me go check out who's trying to target us," Zhang Lingjun said.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Don't go. Let's lure them over. Who knows what we might gain that way?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"How?"

"They lured the purple-furred lifeforms to us rather than revealing themselves. This means that there's something they want from us—and if I'm not mistaken, it's the access token to the Palace of the Moon that you possess."

"Oh?"

"It doesn't actually matter who's trying to target us. What's more important is whether or not we'll continue being targeted in this fashion. There are sixty teams of cultivators here, and I suspect that we'll be targeted again even if we make it through this round of attacks."

"What should we do, then?"

"We can't let them get away with it, of course. As for those who haven't made a move yet, we won't let them get a chance to do so. If you trust me, how about letting me handle things? I promise I won't let your access token fall into others' hands."

Zhang Lingjun considered him carefully before finally nodding, trusting in Xiao Nanfeng. "Very well."

Xiao Nanfeng immediately beckoned the Earth division disciples before him over. After a few hushed commands, they all took out their suits of arhat armor, melded with them, and then soared into the air.

The cultivators skulking about were shocked by the scene.

"Arhat armor is rare even within the divine empire of Dayin. How could Xiao Nanfeng possess so many suits of it? Could he have claimed it all from Yin Tianci back then?

"Arhat armor is a strategic resource of Dayin, and distributing the armor is expressly forbidden. As a result, whoever possesses the armor has to register it and is responsible for ensuring that it remains secured. Any losses have to be reported immediately, and Dayin will stop at nothing to reclaim them. Just how did Xiao Nanfeng retain control over these suits of armor?"

"Could he have forged them on his own?"

"Surely not..."

The sudden appearance of so many suits of arhat armor left everyone curious.

The golden arhats easily took down the purple-furred monsters. A group of the arhats restrained a single purple-furred monster as they descended to the ground in a plume of dust.

In the sky, ten golden arhats restrained five of the purple-furred monsters, while the other ten rendered the purple-furred monster on the ground wholly immobile.

"Princess, please help me subjugate this purple-furred lifeform," Xiao Nanfeng said.

With a wave of his hand, fog sprayed out from around him.

The valley was already shrouded with fog. When Xiao Nanfeng made his move, the fog grew thicker, obscuring even the slightest detail from the onlookers' sight.

Afar, Ao Shuai continued to glare in Xiao Nanfeng's direction.

"Master, should we lure more purple-furred monsters over?" one of his subordinates asked.

"There's no need. Xiao Nanfeng possesses twenty suits of arhat armor. Even if we lure more purple-furred monsters over, we wouldn't be able to do anything to them. Luring too many might even cause us to lose control."

"Master, can Xiao Nanfeng really subdue those lifeforms?" another subordinate asked.

"Not only will he need to suppress them, he even has to hypnotize them with a spirit-based relic. Xiao Nanfeng might not possess such a relic, but the access token for the Palace of the Moon qualifies. Are they starting? Is Zhang Lingjun going to use her token?" Ao Shuai's eyes lit up.

"Master, Xiao Nanfeng's releasing thick fog to obscure our sight and prevent us from seeing what's really going on. This might be a trick. We can't take the risk."

Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. "I know, but you can see a purple glow from that patch of fog. That's likely from the Palace of the Moon's access token. Zhang Lingjun has already retrieved the token, so if we don't seize it now, how long are we going to wait?"

Ao Shuai's subordinates looked over. Indeed, where Xiao Nanfeng was located, a purple glow could be seen.

"There's no danger without opportunity. I'm going to take a chance. Who's willing to retrieve the token for me?" Ao Shuai asked.

He was particularly cautious; despite thinking that the access token was right within reach, he didn't want to risk himself.

"I'll go, Master!" one of his subordinates volunteered.

"Very good. General Zhang, you're a True Immortal, and I'm counting on your strength. Get the token and then return immediately. We'll set off then."

"Understood!"

General Zhang shot through the fog like a beam of light.

"Something's wrong!" he suddenly cried out. "An ambush!"

"Divine Seal of Dazheng, seal!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"Arhat armor, seal!" another group of voices added.

"Yin and yang, circulate!" Chang Bing shouted.

A tempest formed where Xiao Nanfeng was located. The next moment, the fighting stopped. The fog returned to its original, unperturbed state.

The cultivators that had been lying in wait blanched. Ao Shuai wasn't the only one who was interested in the Palace of the Moon's access token; the others all were too. However, General Zhang had been the first to make a move. After hearing the resulting commotion, however, they were all greatly relieved that they had chosen to wait.

"What happened? Why isn't General Zhang saying anything? He's a True Immortal!" someone cried out.

Ao Shuai's eyes twitched. He was right to be wary, after all.

Just then, General Zhang's voice could be heard from the fog. "Master, they've brought the Yin-Yang Cauldron here as well! I was trapped within it out of carelessness, and they're trying to melt my body! I can't survive for long. Save me!"

Everyone knew what was going on now.

This was clearly a trap that Xiao Nanfeng had laid. A True Immortal, caught just like that... the glow from the supposed Palace of the Moon's access token was just an illusion, a scam!

Ao Shuai sucked in air through his teeth. He had fallen for a trick!

"Master, what do we do now? General Zhang won't survive for long. Should we attack them?" one subordinate asked anxiously.

"Attack whom? The Martial Aspect? The princess?" Ao Shuai hissed.

"I—" The subordinate blanched.

He suddenly realized that there were lots of cultivators in the vicinity watching them. If they dared to attack the Martial Aspect and princess in the public eye, they would be summarily executed the very next day. Even the Eastern Aspect wouldn't be able to save them then.

"What should we do now? Give up on General Zhang?"

Ao Shuai scowled. "Forget it. It's our loss. Let's head over."

"Ah?" The subordinate seemed confused.

Ao Shuai flew toward the valley, his subordinates quickly following suit.

The various cultivators skulking about finally saw the mastermind behind the entire affair. They were shocked.

"The son of the Eastern Aspect, Ao Shuai! Is he going to challenge Xiao Nanfeng?" someone murmured expectantly.

Ao Shuai didn't rush into the fog. Rather, he flew toward the mouth of the valley and stopped there.

"I am Ao Shuai. I greet the princess and Martial Aspect Xiao. We heard the commotion from afar, and my friend intended to provide assistance. He was unaware of the situation and barged through your layers of protection. Please forgive any disrespect." Ao Shuai bowed shallowly.

All around him, those cultivators that had been hoping for a fight sighed in regret. Was Ao Shuai going to give up just like that?

Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun slowly walked out of the fog with serious expressions on their faces. They clearly felt that Ao Shuai was too calm, that he would be a dangerous opponent.

"You're Ao Shuai, the Eastern Aspect's son?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"I am. Martial Aspect Xiao, I apologize for General Zhang's show of disrespect. Please forgive him on my father's account."

Ao Shuai refused to bring up the access token for the Palace of the Moon. Rather, he drew on his father's status as a warning to Xiao Nanfeng.

"So that General Zhang who attempted to assassinate me was one of your subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"He is my father's subordinate and my friend. He wasn't trying to injure you, Martial Aspect Xiao. It was a misunderstanding."

"He attacked me, and I was injured."

Ao Shuai frowned. He gave Xiao Nanfeng an incredulous look. Where was Xiao Nanfeng injured? General Zhang was the one who had suffered defeat!

However, Ao Shuai was the one at fault. He had no choice but to take responsibility for this purported injury.

"Perhaps it was an accident. General Zhang would never dare to assassinate you, Martial Aspect Xiao. Shall I question him thoroughly?" Ao Shuai suggested.

"I don't trust your word. He attempted to assassinate me and dealt me a serious injury. Without express command from a superior, I have the right to deal with any assassins as I wish," Xiao Nanfeng replied directly.

"Martial Aspect Xiao, might there be any leeway? General Zhang is the Eastern Aspect's subordinate. Even if you distrust me, won't you at least acknowledge my father's position?"

"It's not a matter of acknowledgment. I've been grievously injured. What would I do if my injuries worsen without sufficient medicine?"

Ao Shuai frowned. It was obvious Xiao Nanfeng was trying to ransom the general—and in a ridiculously direct fashion, at that.

"General Zhang's mistake has caused you significant inconvenience, Martial Aspect Xiao, and I'm willing to compensate you on his behalf," Ao Shuai replied, without any other choice.

He had to reclaim General Zhang. Giving up on a True Immortal would be a considerable loss, and he wouldn't be able to answer to his father if that were to happen.

"Compensation? I wouldn't dream of it—but I do have to show the Eastern Aspect some respect. I suppose I'll accept it, but too much would be inappropriate. Just, say, eight to ten True Immortal relics would do, perhaps."

Ao Shuai stiffened. He cursed inwardly, "Eight to ten True Immortal relics? Are you that thick-skinned? This is daylight robbery! I'd beat you up if we weren't being watched by so many cultivators, you shameless thug!"