Chapter 554: Fires of Rebellion

Outside the capital of Dayin, Dayin's welcoming procession met Xiao Nanfeng's party. The handsome middle-aged man in the lead bowed. "I am Mo Shanhe, Prime Minister of Dayin. On His Majesty's orders, I welcome you to the capital of Dayin, Envoy of the Imperial Court."

"If I'm not mistaken, the Imperial Court planned this visit well ahead of schedule. Is this the reception that an envoy of the Imperial Court ought to receive?" Xiao Nanfeng questioned, dissatisfied.

"His Majesty is currently in a crucial period of secluded cultivation and is unable to welcome you himself. He specifically instructed me to greet you with a procession of a hundred officials. Please don't mind this slight, Envoy," Mo Shanhe continued. "Lodgings have been provided for your party, and a banquet to welcome you. Please follow me, Envoy."

Xiao Nanfeng stared at Mo Shanhe for a moment. Mo Shanhe waited placidly, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"Let's go, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding. He didn't intend to make a fuss about this.

"Please, follow me." Mo Shanhe smiled.

With a wave of his hand, Immortal music began to play once more. The sky shone with multicolored lights as the procession headed into the city, trailed by ten thousand purple-furred lifeforms. The entire city saw the envoy of the Imperial Court from afar.

The procession of ten thousand flew toward a giant island floating in the middle of the city.

There were many buildings on the island, along with a significant guard patrol.

"This is an island reserved specifically for guests to the capital of Dayin, the highest-quality one we have. It shall be your residence for the duration of your stay, Envoy. A banquet has been prepared in the main hall. Everyone unaffiliated with the Imperial Court will be dismissed after the banquet so that you might enjoy full control over it, Envoy," Mo Shanhe continued.

Mo Shanhe was taking everything in stride and clearly experienced in his position.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded as well. He, Zhang Lingjun and Emperor Feng followed Mo Shanhe to the main hall of the floating island.

There, Mo Shanhe's manners and etiquette remained as impeccable as ever.

"Envoy, I regret to inform you that I'm not equipped with the authority to make decisions on behalf of His Majesty. If you've come with diplomatic objectives in mind, I ask that you wait until His Majesty is out of secluded cultivation." Mo Shanhe raised a cup of wine to Xiao Nanfeng and toasted him.

Xiao Nanfeng mirrored his action and nodded.

The welcoming banquet proceeded with a festive atmosphere.

After the banquet ended, Mo Shanhe bade farewell and departed with the hundred officials of court, along with all other cultivators situated on the island. Only Xiao Nanfeng's group was left behind.

Xiao Nanfeng stood by the side of the floating island, leaning over the railing as he watched the officials of Dayin leave.

"Mo Shanhe's a wily old fox, isn't he? Everything was perfectly planned." Zhang Lingjun frowned.

"Not only that, he's keeping us all under surveillance. The moment we leave this floating island, everyone will notice," Emperor Feng said coolly.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced toward a giant mountain in the shape of a dragon's head, where Dayin's imperial palace was located. It was wreathed in fog, though glimmers of light could be seen from the buildings within.

"Do you think Yin Shenhua is really in secluded cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.

"You mean, he's deliberately trying to stop you from even asking about the tithe?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.

"Yin Shenhua's a despicable man. He might really do that," Emperor Feng said, smirking.

"But why bother? The Imperial Court would never allow Yin Shenhua to withhold fortune for more than five years—and the penalty would only grow year after year," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Isn't it obvious?" Emperor Feng's smile widened.

"Please enlighten me, Emperor Feng," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Yin Shenhua wants to rebel."

"To rebel?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened.

"Yu Fuli has been in control of the Sieve of Heaven for a long time. He doesn't care for the people of the world; all he governs is fortune. Every empire has to tithe a tenth of their fortune to the Imperial Court every year. Do you know how much fortune that represents, year after year? All emperors under heaven hate Yu Fuli," Emperor Feng said.

"They all want to rebel?"

"Only one cultivator may be the supreme ruler of the world. Which emperor doesn't want to claim that position? Being the Heavenly Emperor would allow you to benefit from the whole world's labor. Wouldn't that be ideal?"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned, deep in thought.

"I don't know what Yu Fuli's thinking. Previous Heavenly Emperors ruled with iron fists, claiming the entire world as their own. Yu Fuli, however, is different. He doesn't seem to care about authority at all. He even allows the Immortal Emperors under his command to conspire to rebel."

Zhang Lingjun nodded. "I've heard the like within the Imperial Court. There's plenty of places that rebel, and many from the Hall of Martial Aspects are hurt or killed whenever they have to quell a rebellion."

Emperor Feng continued, "It's only natural that Yin Shenhua would be drawn to the same. And if he's planning to rebel, why would he hand over any of his fortune?"

Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment. "Does the divine empire of Dayin have sufficient reserves to rebel?"

"Yin Shenhua has the support of the Buddhas of Three Aspects. The divine empire of Dayin might look ordinary, but are you aware of how many Buddha's Grottos it has cultivated? Dayin's strength lies hidden deep underground. What's more, if Dayin leads the rebellion, you can be certain that other divine empires around the world will join in as well."

Xiao Nanfeng furrowed his brows.

"That's why they're dragging things out until they can secure enough reserves to rise up," Emperor Feng continued.

"Yin Shenhua—how dare he!" Zhang Lingjun fumed.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Is this widely known?"

"It's not a secret at all. Of course, ordinary people aren't aware of what's going on, but at our level of strength, it's obvious. The divine empire of Dayin is already three years late with its tithe of fortune, and the Imperial Court only allows five years' delay. In other words, Dayin's rebellion will strike within the next year. As an envoy from the Imperial Court, you'll surely be the first to be taken down. Your head will decorate their banner."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.

"Whoever sent you here had ill intent in mind. I'm sure they were well aware of this." Emperor Feng smirked.

Xiao Nanfeng's brows furrowed further. He finally understood why Ao Canghai's mission didn't have any penalty at all. If he were to die, that would be the ultimate penalty.

"As for you, your ill-conceived plan left us all under surveillance. How foolish you've been."

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Emperor Feng, a flash of disdain in his gaze. He murmured inwardly, "If I had chosen to sneak into the city with you, not only would I have to be wary of assassination attempts from Dayin proper, I would have to watch out for attacks from you, too. It might be foolish from your perspective, but a blessing from mine."

"So what? You can easily free yourself from this level of surveillance," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"It's not the same. At any rate, this sort of thing makes me uncomfortable."

Xiao Nanfeng murmured inwardly again, "Anything that makes you uncomfortable makes me comfortable."

"Since we're stuck here now, Xiao Nanfeng, what should we do?" Zhang Lingjun asked anxiously. "We can't leave things be, surely?"

"Why, we don't have to sit back passively and wait," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Oh?"

"We have ten thousand purple-furred lifeforms with us. They can serve as manpower to help us advertise."

"Advertise what?"

"The truth—that the divine empire of Dayin has been refusing to hand over its tithe of fortune. It owes us 60% of the fortune that it has amassed. Issue a bounty and invite suggestions from the best strategists around the world. Any whose plan is successfully enacted shall be rewarded with Immortal relics, with Immortal pills, and even a position as a general in charge of my manor's forces."

"Issue a bounty to capture the whole world's attention?" Zhang Lingjun murmured.

"Exactly. Set up a hundred bounty zones in a hundred locations around the city. I want the whole world to know that the divine empire of Dayin is behind on its dues."

Zhang Lingjun gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. "Aren't you worried you'll damage the Imperial Court's reputation?"

"It's not related to the Imperial Court. I'm the one responsible for the bounty, and I'm the one looking for help from strategists across the world. I'm not afraid of embarrassment, so it'll be fine," Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.

"But will the divine empire of Dayin stand for this?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.

"We're hardly spreading anything but the truth. What's more, we represent the Imperial Court. Would Dayin dare to kill us now and start their rebellion early?"

"I don't think they would, but would anyone dare to accept your bounty?"

"It doesn't matter. I don't intend to wait for anyone to help me out. I simply want to proclaim to the world that Dayin's behind on its payments. I'll ruin Dayin's reputation and disgust them. Yin Shenhua refuses to meet me—well, I'll tarnish his reputation until he changes his mind."

Zhang Lingjun: ...

Emperor Feng was giving Xiao Nanfeng an odd look as well. "I doubt Yin Shenhua cares about his reputation, but I'm sure he'll be disgusted enough to strike at you."

"If I make a fuss and secure the attention of the capital, Senior, you'll be able to do what you want to do as well. This sort of thing only hurts my reputation. I did it for you, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Emperor Feng sneered. "How shameless."

Zhang Lingjun watched Xiao Nanfeng silently, a gentle smile on her face.