Chapter 500: Recruiting Subordinates

In order to rescue General Zhang, despite how much he was fuming, Ao Shuai had no choice but to pay Xiao Nanfeng's ransom. He retrieved a conch-shaped relic. "This is a spritzflame conch, filled with a tremendous quantity of spritzflame. It is a True Immortal relic, and I provide it to you as compensation, Martial Aspect Xiao."

"A single True Immortal relic isn't sufficient for my injuries," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.

"It is the only treasure in my possession. I have none other. If you don't accept it, so be it. I've done my best, and you shall have to account for General Zhang's death to my father."

He had no choice but to admit wrongdoing to reclaim General Zhang, but he was no fool. The spritzflame conch was the extent of what he would be willing to give up. Even if he were to fail, he could report what he had done to his father and be satisfied.

Xiao Nanfeng could likewise tell that this was Ao Shuai's limit. He eventually nodded. "Very well. Considering the Eastern Aspect's reputation, I'll settle for this spritzflame conch of yours. I hope it'll suffice for my injuries."

Ao Shuai frowned. This was clearly extortion; did Xiao Nanfeng have to keep bringing up this injury? Whose intelligence was he trying to insult?

Xiao Nanfeng claimed the spritzflame conch and carefully inspected it to ensure it was legitimate. Then, he commanded, "Chang Bing, unseal the cauldron!"

"Understood!" Chang Bing called out from within the fog.

The cauldron opened up with a creak as a massive object emerged. It flew into the air before descending in a parabola to land close to Ao Shuai's side—a huge octopus spirit, charred black and bloody in many places. [1]

"How are you, General Zhang?" Ao Shuai asked.

The octopus spirit slowly transformed into a human. He glared at Xiao Nanfeng, then bowed toward Ao Shuai. "I am well, Master. Thank you for rescuing me."

Ao Shuai nodded, then turned to Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun. "Martial Aspect Xiao, Princess Lingjun, we won't take up more of your time."

He left with a group of cultivators in tow, including General Zhang. They vanished from sight.

"Master, I apologize for being inept and losing you your treasure."

"It doesn't matter. It's only temporarily in his possession. We can only leave in a month's time, and I intend to reclaim the conch during that period," Ao Shuai replied.

"We were tricked this time, but they've exposed the Yin-Yang Cauldron. I'd like to see them stop me next time," General Zhang muttered fiercely.

He had almost died within the cauldron, and he bore Xiao Nanfeng and his party a deep grudge for what they had done.

"Next time, we'll have to act quickly. Otherwise, other forces might get to them before us," Ao Shuai said.

"Would they dare?" General Zhang frowned.

"Why not? Do you think the other Martial Aspects' subordinates are kindhearted? Xiao Nanfeng's procession doesn't have a single True Immortal, and they have tremendous treasure in the form of the Yin-Yang Cauldron. It's an excellent opportunity for them to strike."

"The Palace of the Moon's access token is worth it. Xiao Nanfeng won't be able to keep guard over the token."

Just then, Xiao Nanfeng's voice could be heard through the fog.

"Cultivators, Princess Lingjun is intending to delve deep into the Palace of the Moon. We are recruiting guards for our team. Any who are interested in heading deep into the Palace of the Moon are welcome to join," he shouted.

Xiao Nanfeng's voice resonated and could be heard throughout the fog despite its noise-dampening properties.

Ao Shuai blanched. "What did Xiao Nanfeng just say?"

"He said that he would allow everyone to enter the depths of the Palace of the Moon together. He's recruiting guards for his team!" General Zhang exclaimed.

"Is he crazy? Why would he open up the Palace of the Moon for everyone?" Ao Shuai blanched.

"It must be intentional. Everyone wants the token for themselves. Now that Xiao Nanfeng's inviting them all in, no one needs to bother trying to snatch it."

"Damn it. If the others join him, how are we going to seize the token for ourselves? And how am I going to reclaim my spritzflame conch?"

"Xiao Nanfeng must have predicted our intentions and everyone else's plan. He's willing to sacrifice a huge advantage for self-protection, isn't he?" General Zhang's face scrunched up.

"Damn him!" Ao Shuai cursed.

The cultivators all around, who were planning to depart, all turned back upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng's shout.

"Is Xiao Nanfeng crazy? Does he know what he's talking about? The Palace of the Moon was once a princess' residence, and it's filled with treasure! Is he intending to share it with everyone?"

"Whatever we can claim from these hunting grounds belongs to the Martial Aspects—not just these purple-furred monsters, but also the treasure in the grounds themselves. The most valuable prizes are surely deep within the Palace of the Moon. Does Xiao Nanfeng not intend to claim them all for himself? How could Princess Lingjun agree to this?"

"If this is true, we won't have any reason to attack him."

Cultivators murmured to each other in hushed voices. Some took the initiative to volunteer.

"I greet Martial Aspect Xiao and Princess Lingjun. Might I confirm that what you said just now is true?"

"Indeed. We possess the access token to the Palace of the Moon. The princess wishes to delve deep into the palace, but we expect to be confronted with large numbers of purple-furred lifeforms during the way. Anyone willing to help guard the princess is welcome to join us," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Indeed!" Zhang Lingjun nodded as well.

The man was overjoyed. "I would be more than willing!"

"We as well!" More and more cultivators flocked over.

"We need a large group of cultivators, and there are too few present at the moment. Feel free to call on your companions. We'll wait right here," Xiao Nanfeng declared.

"Got it!" the cultivators replied, surprised by their unexpected luck.

Some remained to accompany Xiao Nanfeng while the others scattered to call out for the rest of their group.

In the sky, a group of golden arhats lured the five purple-furred monsters away before flying back to guard Xiao Nanfeng protectively.

Xiao Nanfeng brought Zhang Lingjun back to the domain of thick fog he had set up.

"Princess, your objective is to uncover the truth behind your mother's rebellion in the past. You don't mind that these cultivators will accompany us, do you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"I don't mind. Many of the treasures can't be collected without my token, at any rate—but I doubt they're joining us out of the kindness of their hearts." Zhang Lingjun frowned.

"It doesn't matter. There's safety in numbers."

"With them around, they'll fight over the purple-furred monsters that we capture. Don't you mind?"

"Let's uncover the truth behind your mother's rebellion furst. We can come back and study these purple-furred lifeforms later. The fact that they're so similar to those red-furred ones in the red moon illusory realm... There has to be a deeper connection behind all this."

"Oh?"

"Let's wait a little longer while I inspect the spritzflame conch I just obtained."

"Very well." Zhang Lingjun nodded, a strange look on her face.

Then, Xiao Nanfeng flew into the Yin-Yang Cauldron while Zhang Lingjun watched on in surprise.

"Seal the lid and guard me," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" Chang Bing and the others replied.

The lid sealed shut.

There were too many cultivators around for their location to be secure even with thick fog. It would be safest to step into somewhere well-protected for secluded cultivation—such as this cauldron, for example.

Within the cauldron, Xiao Nanfeng inspected the spritzflame conch carefully. As promised, it contained a large quantity of blue flames.

"This is truly a treasure!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

His ten golden crows emerged from his body as he activated the spritzflame conch, causing blue flames to surge out. The ten golden crows absorbed the flames rapidly.

Ao Shuai had provided the spritzflame conch, and Xiao Nanfeng couldn't be certain if Ao Shuai had messed with the relic. He didn't want to entertain the possibility in more detail, and had no intention in attuning to the relic regardless. It would be best for him to advance his cultivation as rapidly as he could at the moment.

The spritzflame surged into his body, which radiated with golden light.

Four hours later, he had finished absorbing all the flames within the conch.

A wave of fire erupted from Xiao Nanfeng as he opened his eyes, nodding in satisfaction. "The ninth stage of an Earth Immortal? This conch really was an excellent treasure!"

By then, the conch had lost all its energy. It cracked and shattered into powder.

Meanwhile, outside the cauldron, shrouded in fog, Ao Shuai's face suddenly flushed red. He groaned as he clutched his head in pain.

"What's wrong, Master?" His subordinates rushed over.

Ao Shuai moaned. It took him a few long moments to steady himself. "The soul imprint I left on the spritzflame conch was forcibly dispersed, and I suffered backlash as a result. Xiao Nanfeng destroyed that relic!"

"Master, are you certain?" General Zhang exclaimed.

"How could I be mistaken? In order to prevent Xiao Nanfeng from detecting it, I specifically used a secret technique to hide my soul imprint so that I could lock in on Xiao Nanfeng's position at any moment. The moment Xiao Nanfeng destroyed the conch, however, my soul imprint was forcibly awakened and dispersed. I'm sure the conch has been destroyed!" Ao Shuai seethed.

"I just learned that Xiao Nanfeng secretly entered his Yin-Yang Cauldron. Could he have melted it down just now?" General Zhang frowned.

"Is he crazy? That's a True Immortal relic! Why would he destroy it?!"

1. Octopus in Chinese is 章鱼, "zhang yu," corresponding to General Zhang. ☜