Chapter 525: Xiao Nanfeng's Conquest

Outside Yongding, in the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm, despite the fact that Ye Dafu and the others had been beaten to a pulp and countless lengths of red rope had been torn apart, the True Immortal spirit king had been restrained. Starlight descended from the heavens and trapped the spirit king within a starlit barrier.

"Blue Lantern, can you hold on?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"This spirit king is stronger than the previous two, but it should be alright if I give it my full focus."

"I'll leave it to you, then."

"Don't worry!" Blue Lantern nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng retreated from the hidden realm along with Ye Dafu and the others. The portal winked shut as they left.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost continued to fight against Sage Yellowbrow. The fighting was intense, and both cultivators had been hurt.

Ye Dafu murmured, "Your Majesty, this Sage Yellowbrow is far stronger than I thought. Could he be..."

"A Golden Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"A Golden Immortal?" Ye Dafu's eyes widened.

"There are six grades of Immortals. The lower three grades are Human, Earth, and Heaven; we are all Heaven Immortals now. However, in the eyes of the higher Immortals, we're all still rather weak. After True Immortals come Golden Immortals, who boast immense strength. If not for the help of the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, we would have a hard time against Sage Yellowbrow," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Is the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost a Golden Immortal as well?" Ye Dafu exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It's been rumored that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was once very badly injured, which was how his cultivation ended up falling back down to the level of a True Immortal. It looks like he's recovered quite a bit since, and Sage Yellowbrow is clearly an early-stage Golden Immortal as well. That's why they're able to fight on equal footing."

"Your Majesty, if the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost suddenly decides to give up, how will we deal with Sage Yellowbrow?" Ye Dafu asked in worry.

Xiao Nanfeng considered the matter carefully. He could use the Dazheng Code of Laws against a Golden Immortal. The Dazheng Code of Laws contained the foundational laws of the kingdom and could be used to seal even exceptionally strong cultivators. Furthermore, it had been forged from the Heavenly Dao Scroll, and the star maps within were subtle and powerful.

However, unless he were forced to do so, Xiao Nanfeng didn't want to expose the Dazheng Code of Laws.

"Let's wait and see for now," he finally replied.

The group of cultivations flew toward the barrier surrounding Yongding. Using a special method, they passed through the barrier and into the plaza outside Xuanhuang Hall.

Zhang Lingjun strode up. "Be careful. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost might very well feign weakness to allow Sage Yellowbrow to attack Yongding."

"Oh?"

"The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost deliberately glanced in the direction of Yongding several times after being sent flying. He seems to be searching for traces of you—but you've been away from the battlefield. That's how things have dragged out for so long. Now that you've shown yourself, he could easily pretend to be defeated to have Sage Yellowbrow kill you. You had better hide," Zhang Lingjun warned.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. All of Yongding was watching him. As the emperor of Dazheng, how could he hide? He had no intention of retreating.

"Forget it. If the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost feigns weakness, I'll censure him. As for Sage Yellowbrow, I can handle him as well."

"You can handle a Golden Immortal? I don't think you would be able to even if you invoked your empire's strength!" Zhang Lingjun murmured.

Xiao Nanfeng stared at the sky, not explaining himself.

Indeed, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was planning on doing what Zhang Lingjun had anticipated. However, it would be too fake if he had done so from the very beginning, and he had chosen to fight with Sage Yellowbrow for some time as a result. When he felt the time was right to lead Sage Yellowbrow to kill Xiao Nanfeng, however, he belatedly discovered that Xiao Nanfeng had vanished. He immediately grew frustrated.

He lasted until Xiao Nanfeng finally showed himself and was about to lure Sage Yellowbrow down to Yongding when a shout could be heard from within the city. "Island Lord, something's wrong! Xiao Nanfeng's other body has attacked Thousand-Spirit Island with a large army. All the spirit kings have been trapped within the Cursed Earth formation!"

The shout could be heard even in the air.

Sage Yellowbrow, held back by the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, could only watch on in frustration as Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and his two True Immortal subordinates were killed, helpless to do anything against them. He launched an intense series of attacks against the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, swearing that he would annihilate the city of Yongding.

However, the panicked shouts from within the city broke his concentration.

Xiao Nanfeng was attacking Thousand-Spirit Island? How could that be?

The next moment, he decided to trust the spirit in the city. If the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost himself had shown up, it was very possible that the Imperial Court was involved.

Was Thousand-Spirit Island going to be taken down?

"Xiao Nanfeng, I'll kill you!" Sage Yellowbrow howled, slamming a palm at the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost pretended not to be able to counter the blow. He was sent flying.

He grinned inwardly. He had succeeded! Now that he had fallen, no one could criticize him for Xiao Nanfeng's death. Sage Yellowbrow would surely kill him now!

However, Sage Yellowbrow immediately turned and flew toward the horizon. He vanished from sight within a moment.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost: ...

The countless cultivators within the city: ...

They didn't understand what was going on. Why had Sage Yellowbrow stopped attacking Yongding? Why was he running off?

"Are you crazy?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost seethed.

He had acted for half a day all so Sage Yellowbrow could kill Xiao Nanfeng—only to have Sage Yellowbrow run off at the most critical moment. He had suffered a beating for nothing! He was so angry he could vomit out blood.

Xiao Nanfeng called out toward the fuming Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, "Martial Aspect, pursue Sage Yellowbrow immediately!"

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost scowled. Despite his anger, he realized what was going on. The shouts from the spirits within Yongding clearly indicated that the war against Thousand-Spirit Island had begun. What was going on there?

"Understood!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost replied.

He chased after Sage Yellowbrow as they zipped straight to Thousand-Spirit Island. He was worried and filled with doubt. He wanted Xiao Nanfeng to die, but not at the cost of Ao Shuai. By obeying Xiao Nanfeng, he would be able to make it back to protect Ao Shuai as well.

Meanwhile, in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng handed the commander's token to Ye Dafu. "All of you should head toward Thousand-Spirit Island immediately. I don't know if you'll make it in time. If my other body is alright, hand me the token. Otherwise, protect yourselves as your top priority."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and his lackeys replied.

"I'll go as well," Zhang Lingjun said.

"Very well. Be careful."

Zhang Lingjun nodded and beckoned for a few purple-furred monsters to accompany her. They flew into the air alongside Ye Dafu and the others as they chased after the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.

Back on Thousand-Spirit Island, the Cursed Earth formation trapped the gathered True Immortal spirit kings. Countless Immortal spirits from the islands all around swarmed toward their respective spirit kings.

Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou fended off their attacks alongside five thousand purple-furred monsters, temporarily reducing the pressure that the defenders faced.

However, there were simply so many Immortal spirits from all around that the entire island seemed to be encapsulated in a storm of fire and wind. Waves swelled around the island.

Ao Shuai and his subordinates charged onto the battlefield, fending off the Immortal spirits all around them.

"Master, the current situation is rather unexpected," one of his subordinates stated.

"It is, but this is a good thing. Xiao Nanfeng helped us out tremendously, haha. When our forces get here, we'll be able to secure the island in one fell swoop," Ao Shua cried out in excitement.

"Then do we need to do anything at the moment?"

"Focus on holding back the spirits, but don't expend too much effort in doing so. Make sure the Cursed Earth formation doesn't get destroyed. In addition, leave the spirits an opening to kill Xiao Nanfeng," Ao Shuai mentally transmitted.

"If Xiao Nanfeng were to die, no one will be able to control these purple-furred lifeforms. Also, would those responsible for maintaining the Cursed Earth formation listen to us?" The subordinate frowned.

"Xiao Nanfeng won't die so easily. He has a suit of arhat armor that will allow him to hold on for some time. Once we exhaust all his trump cards and once our forces get here, we can have Xiao Nanfeng die then. We'll take over the command of the purple-furred monsters and the Cursed Earth formation," Ao Shuai said.

"Understood, Master! I'll arrange things immediately." Then, he called out to Xiao Nanfeng, "Commander, run! It's dangerous here!"

"Commander, why aren't you guarded? Someone, go protect the commander! We can't let anything happen to him!"

The two shouts roused the attention of the gathered Immortal spirits, all of whom turned to Xiao Nanfeng, hovering in the air. Some of them charged toward him.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes glinted. He knew that those cultivators who had 'helpfully' shouted at him were simply trying to lure the spirits over.

Some purple-furred monsters, sensing the threat that the Immortal spirits posed, headed over to protect Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng called back, "Don't come over. Continue guarding the Cursed Earth formation!"

"Understood!" The purple-furred monsters nodded, though rather dubiously.

Dozens of Immortal spirits had already made their way right up to Xiao Nanfeng.

They spat out icy arrows, fireballs, wind blades, thunderbolts, and all sorts of other spirit-oriented techniques as though they were intending to take Xiao Nanfeng down in one fell swoop. Suddenly, however, caws resounded from the center of the bombardment.

Countless fireballs flew into the air, obliterating all the spirit techniques that approached Xiao Nanfeng. At the same time, ten golden crows flew out of the bombardment and shot toward the dozens of Immortal spirits.

Their sharp claws were like lances that speared through the Immortal spirits' bodies, clawing them apart. The golden crows' feathers were like divine armaments that tore the spirits to pieces.

All the Immortal spirits that the golden crows caught were torn to shreds, their bodies and blood scattered through the air.

The golden crows surrounded Xiao Nanfeng protectively. He himself didn't even need to make a move; he strode toward the Cursed Earth formation as though he were simply strolling down a garden path. Where he passed, fires blazed and blood scattered all over. The ten golden crows were like a meat grinder that pulverized all Immortal spirits headed his way.

"When did he become a Heaven Immortal?" Ao Shuai cried out from afar.