Chapter 561: Put to Action

Although Zhang Lingjun had now been rescued, Xiao Nanfeng's involvement in the Buddha's Grotto couldn't be revealed. Xiao Nanfeng had the purple-furred monsters continue searching for Zhang Lingjun in the outskirts of the capital.

The countless cultivators of the capital of Dayin quickly realized what was going on. Had Zhang Lingjun gone missing?

In a small, secluded cottage within the city, Ao Shuai gaped upon hearing his subordinates' reports. "I thought Xiao Nanfeng was smarter than this, but he's lost Zhang Lingjun after just a few days. What a joke he is."

"I think this is retaliation for Xiao Nanfeng having sullied Dayin's reputation," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost suggested.

Ao Shuai smirked. "That's why I'm saying Xiao Nanfeng shouldn't play with fire."

However, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost then shook his head as he frowned. "No, it's not quite so simple."

"Oh?"

"Master, we can't stay here any longer. If Dayin can't even tolerate such a small slight, then they've clearly accumulated sufficient resources and are about to make a move."

"What move? Dayin's... rebellion?!" Ao Shuai narrowed his eyes. He had finally guessed what was going on.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost sighed. He nodded, finally revealing the truth to Ao Shuai.

Suddenly, Ao Shuai understood his father's intentions to date. He asked, "If the divine empire of Dayin were to rebel, it would surely kill any envoys of the Imperial Court on its territory to announce it to the world, wouldn't it?"

"Precisely."

"No wonder Xiao Nanfeng isn't getting punished for neglecting this mission. In other words, Xiao Nanfeng has trapped himself in Dayin, hasn't he? Dayin won't let him leave even if he tries to!"

"Indeed. He's done for. Given what just happened, however, it's clear that Dayin's rebellion is imminent. We can't stay, either."

Ao Shuai shook his head. "No. I want to see Xiao Nanfeng die with my own eyes. No one knows that we're hidden here, and we'll be very safe."

"But what if something were to happen, Master?"

"Xiao Nanfeng's like a cockroach. He might have a means of saving himself, and I won't be satisfied if he manages to run off. I'd like to keep an eye on him—and I have his nemesis with me."

"Master, you can't attack a Martial Aspect. If anyone finds out, nobody will be able to save you," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't be that foolish," Ao Shuai replied.

Three days later, Mo Shanhe arrived at a valley, where he peered into a pit where the Buddha of Dual Cultivation's Grotto had been.

His subordinates checked the surroundings, only to find nothing of interest whatsoever.

"Is there no trace of the perpetrator whatsoever?" Mo Shanhe frowned.

"Nothing at all. It's all been wiped clean," one of his subordinates reported.

"The Buddha of Dual Cultivation and his disciples were here. How could they have vanished out of nowhere?"

"The Buddha of Dual Cultivation would never leave with such short notice. What's more, the entire Buddha's Grotto vanished, leaving no trace behind. Something is clearly wrong."

"Oh?"

"Prime Minister, did you notice something?"

Mo Shanhe frowned. "The Buddha's Grotto on Thousand-Spirit Island was absorbed by the praying mat that Zhang Lingjun possesses. What if the same thing happened here?"

"Prime Minister, you mean that Zhang Lingjun was freed, and whoever freed her destroyed this place and had the praying mat absorb the Buddha's Grotto?"

"That must be so. If we can find Zhang Lingjun, we'll be able to determine the truth of what transpired here. Assign everyone to scout the area—and keep a close eye on Xiao Nanfeng."

"Understood!" his subordinates replied.

There was nothing else to uncover here. Mo Shanhe returned to the capital of Dayin, his face dark and dour.

Within Yin Tianci's manor in Dayin, Tang exclaimed in 'surprise', "Your Highness, you mean Mo Lengxuan might have died because he tried to kidnap Zhang Lingjun?"

Yin Tianci nodded. "Mo Shanhe only has the one son. I don't want to imagine how mad he must be."

"Mo Lengxuan might have vanished, but how can we conclude that he's dead?" Tang asked.

Yin Tianci shook his head. "He's certainly dead. Mo Shanhe has plenty of subordinates with esoteric powers who have confirmed it. However, no one knows who killed him yet."

"Who else? It has to be Xiao Nanfeng!"

"Xiao Nanfeng isn't strong enough to deal with the Buddha of Dual Cultivation." Yin Tianci shook his head.

"The Buddha of Dual Cultivation? You mean, the pink-robed monk who appeared beside Mo Lengxuan that one day?"

"Right. I'm sure the culprit is some incredible expert. No one else would be able to destroy the Buddha of Dual Cultivation's Grotto so completely."

"Then it has to be Xiao Nanfeng, Your Highness! Don't you remember what I said before? This is part of his scheme. He's using Zhang Lingjun as bait to uncover Dayin's secrets. Mo Lengxuan, that pig-headed fool—he was taken advantage of! Even if Xiao Nanfeng weren't the one who finished him off, he's surely the mastermind behind the entire affair."

Yin Tianci's eyes widened.

"Your Highness, I think you had better inform the prime minister of this immediately. From your tone, I'm sure he's privy to much of Dayin's secrets, and might even be instrumental in handling them. Xiao Nanfeng has made his move. We can't let him lead us by the nose! I don't know how much damage Dayin suffered as a result of this, but we can't let Xiao Nanfeng's plans succeed. We had better remind the prime minister of this."

Yin Tianci nodded. "Mo Lengxuan is far too useless. If he were as careful as you are, the Imperial Court would never have managed to sidle its way into Dayin's affairs. Come, let's head to the prime minister's manor."

"Understood!" Tang replied.

Within a hall on Xiao Nanfeng's guest island, the Emperor Feng-possessed Zhao Yuanjiao was drinking tea as he glanced at an exasperated Xiao Nanfeng not too far away.

"Haven't you found the princess yet?!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"We haven't found a single trace of her," a purple-furred monster replied anxiously.

"Keep searching. Increase the scope of the search, and have the information brokers within the city put out feelers as well, no matter the cost!"

"Understood!" The purple-furred monster rushed out of the hall.

Xiao Nanfeng's exasperation cleared away the moment it did so.

"You really are a skilled actor. If I didn't know that you hid Zhang Lingjun somewhere safe, I might have been tricked myself."

"Please don't mind, Senior. Although the princess is safe now, we can't let it be known that we've found her. The purple-furred monsters are loyal and would keep the secret, but they're not necessarily good actors. Only by hiding the truth will we be safe. I don't want to cause too much trouble."

Emperor Feng sneered. "You don't want to cause trouble? You're the one causing all the trouble."

"Hardly, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng laughed in response. "I'm sure you managed to gain quite a bit from our expedition."

Emperor Feng glared at Xiao Nanfeng. He smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, you have more secrets than I expected."

"Hardly, Senior."

Xiao Nanfeng knew that Emperor Feng wanted to learn how he had managed to get into the Buddha's Grotto, but he had no interest in letting Emperor Feng know at all.

"Have your subordinates stop following me," he continued.

"What do you mean, Senior?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

Could Emperor Feng have learned of the spectral guards' surveillance? You Jiu himself led it.

"I used to be an Immortal Emperor myself. Don't you think I can identify when I'm being followed? I know roughly of the techniques of those spying on me. They're the spectral guards from the fallen divine empire of Dawei, aren't they? I met the Specter King myself a millennium ago. To think you would have inherited their foundations, too..."

Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. Emperor Feng really had detected You Jiu's presence, then.

"Hardly, Senior. I only managed to obtain a scant portion of Dawei's treasures." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.

"Emperor Wei's Hegemon's Fist was unparalleled in his time. Although that technique has since spread across the world, no one could reach his vaunted heights. Within the Buddha's Grotto in which I was sealed, however, I could sense the refinement of your rendition of Hegemon's Fist. Unless you received pointers from Emperor Wei himself, you would never have reached that level of skill. Furthermore, you even control the spectral guards of his kingdom. Need I say more?" Emperor Feng smirked again.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I was simply lucky to have attuned to the technique more than most, Senior. I hardly possess Dawei's foundations."

Emperor Feng's face grew dour. "Are you really going to keep denying it?"

"It's the truth, Senior. Hegemon's Fist resonated with me. Emperor Wei never gave me any pointers—and he could hardly have, considering that he's been dead for a millennium."

Emperor Feng bore him no goodwill; why would he reveal his secrets to him?

"Stop having your subordinates follow me," Emperor Feng repeated. "If you really want to know what I've been doing all this time, all you needed to do was ask."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"As you've seen, I have a secret technique that allows me to devour the strength of the cursed effigies subordinate to the Buddhas of Three Aspects. If I want to deal with Yin Shenhua and the Three Buddhas, I'll need far more strength. That's why I've been searching for Buddha's Grottos to advance myself before taking revenge on Yin Shenhua. I'm sure your spectral guards have set up a strong information network. Do you know where more of these Buddha's Grottos are located?"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he analyzed Emperor Feng's words. In the end, he concluded that Emperor Feng was telling the truth, at least partially. As for whether he had other designs in mind as well, Xiao Nanfeng didn't know.

"Zhang Lingjun knows my secrets, and I wouldn't ordinarily allow her out of my sight. If you can help me find more Buddha's Grottos, I'll let this matter slide."

Emperor Feng believed that Xiao Nanfeng had hidden Zhang Lingjun, not that the Heavenly Emperor himself had taken her away.

Xiao Nanfeng was silent for a moment before he smiled. "It's not hard for you to find more Buddha's Grottos, Senior, as long as you're willing to take the risk."

"Oh?" Emperor Feng's eyes lit up. He waited expectantly for Xiao Nanfeng to continue.