Chapter 563: Quelling Three Spirits

In a small cottage within Dayin's capital, Ao Shuai gaped upon hearing one of his subordinates' reports. "What? Xiao Nanfeng's going to participate in Dayin's martial tournament? Is he crazy?"

"It's true. Xiao Nanfeng just registered."

"That doesn't make sense. An envoy of the Imperial Court, representative of the Heavenly Emperor, participating in Dayin's martial tournament? He's going to ruin the Imperial Court's reputation!" Ao Shuai exclaimed.

Beside him, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng wouldn't participate in such a tournament for no reason. There has to be something compelling to him."

"Could it be the first-place prize, that pagoda of quintessential solarfire? Is he crazy? That might be a Golden Immortal relic that's compatible with his Sky of Ten Suns, but he represents the Imperial Court, the Heavenly Emperor!" Ao Shuai frowned.

"This martial tournament is different from those in the past. Cultivators from all forces are welcome to attend, and the first-place winner doesn't have to become an official of Dayin. This tournament is simply designed to showcase Dayin's strength and power. Xiao Nanfeng can easily argue that he's joining to display the Imperial Court's might."

"But would he really join just for that?" Ao Shuai frowned again.

"I believe there's a reason that none of us are privy to."

"Oh?"

"Xiao Nanfeng has been busy trying to search for Zhang Lingjun. What do you think would make him suddenly join this tournament?"

"Do you think that Zhang Lingjun's disappearance is somehow related to this tournament, then? That Xiao Nanfeng is joining out of obligation rather than choice?"

"I'm not too sure. I don't understand why Dayin would want to lure Xiao Nanfeng to the tournament. It feels like a scheme."

"Oh? Isn't that good for us?"

"Not quite. If Dayin is intending to revolt soon, why go through so much trouble to kill the Imperial Court's envoy? It would be far easier and more demonstrative to kill him directly, rather than to do it by 'accident' in such an indirect fashion. Could they be trying to sully the Imperial Court's reputation this way? That doesn't seem quite right, either."

"Regardless, it's a good thing that they're targeting Xiao Nanfeng." Ao Shuai smiled.

"There may yet be a scheme at play," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.

"Even so, Xiao Nanfeng's the one who would be caught in it, not us. I just want to watch him die!" Ao Shuai said.

"Master, the situation is more complex than it seems at first glance. You shouldn't interfere."

"Me, interfere?" Ao Shuai smiled, ignoring the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost's advice. He had his own plan in mind.

Days later, the martial tournament was right about to begin. It would be held at the mountain range outside the capital and to its east.

Formation flags were set up all over the mountain range, erecting a huge barrier that marked the boundaries of the tournament. Because it would be a fight among Heaven Immortals with destructive power, the arena would have to be commensurately large. That was why it had to be hosted outside the capital.

Under ordinary circumstances, Dayin's martial tournaments received significant attention. This incarnation of the tournament, however, was exceptional.

First, the Golden Immortal relic was an incredible treasure that could form the centerpiece of many an Immortal sect. That alone drew the interest of many.

Furthermore, winning the tournament didn't require joining Dayin as an official. Many Immortals and cultivators from other kingdoms who weren't otherwise interested in Dayin were tempted by the possibility of winning worldwide renown.

Most shockingly, the envoy of the Imperial Court, Xiao Nanfeng, would be participating in the tournament himself.

Although many claimed that he was doing so to demonstrate the power of the Imperial Court, so what? A tournament that even a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court was participating in was shocking enough.

Would this occasion mark a face-off among countless Heaven Immortals worldwide to determine who was the strongest of all?

Countless Dayin cultivators swarmed toward the tournament, as did other cultivators from various divine empires and Immortal sects across the world. All manner of cultivators were present as spectators, including even plenty of True Immortals as well.

At the plaza beyond where the tournament was held, there were plenty of officials and soldiers of Dayin maintaining law and order. All participants had arrived by then, with Xiao Nanfeng's presence most noteworthy among them.

Behind Xiao Nanfeng were several purple-furred monsters, and before him stood Emperor Feng, possessing Zhao Yuanjiao. The two cultivators conversed with fog and a sound-isolating barrier surrounding them.

"You miscalculated. Mo Shanhe's not part of this martial tournament at all. An official of Dayin is overseeing it instead," Emperor Feng said, frowning.

"What's the rush? The tournament hasn't started, so of course Mo Shanhe wouldn't be present just yet. Wait until I make a ruckus—he'll surely appear then. Wouldn't it be better for you to attack him at that point?"

"Are you that confident?"

"I've already set up everything for you. As for whether you can succeed, that depends on you."

"Very well. I'll trust you this once. I'll be leaving now—I don't want to be observed like a caged monkey, like you."

"Hold on. Hand me back my golden net and help me attune it for ease of use," Xiao Nanfeng called out.

"I'll safeguard it for you," Emperor Feng replied, unwilling.

"It's not hard to learn that I borrowed a golden net relic from the Imperial Court. If I don't show up with a golden net later, it'll be strange.What's more, even when you attack Mo Shanhe, you won't be able to use that relic at all, or you'll expose my involvement."

"You don't have to use the golden net, either," Emperor Feng retorted.

"Don't be ridiculous. I put myself in danger to help you entrap Mo Shanhe. Do you really think there are only Heaven Immortals participating? If I die here, then neither of us will benefit."

Emperor Feng pursed his lips before handing over the golden net. "Here. I've attuned it for you—just channel your Immortal qi according to the structure I've left behind to attune it immediately. Return it to me once you're done with it."

"I don't begrudge you for having taken it in the past when you had no relics to your name, but do you intend to keep it despite having gained quite a few Golden Immortal or higher-grade relics from the Buddha of Dual Cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng rolled his eyes.

"You're too weak to make full use of a Golden Immortal relic. I just don't want treasures to be wasted," Emperor Feng replied.

"And why should you care if I do? You really are shameless," Xiao Nanfeng replied disdainfully.

After having interacted with Emperor Feng for so long, Xiao Nanfeng had grown far more casual with him, and Emperor Feng didn't much mind either. He dispelled the sound-isolating barrier and retreated with a group of purple-furred monsters. Not too long later, he and the purple-furred monsters split up, and both parties vanished from sight.

Few paid attention to Zhao Yuanjiao, whom he had possessed. After all, those that did investigate Xiao Nanfeng's background found that he was purportedly a rather weak cultivator who wasn't worth any concern, and that carried over to Emperor Feng as well.

Xiao Nanfeng walked up to where the competitors of the tournament were situated.

Thousands of participants had appeared in the plaza, some of whom were from Dayin and others from across the world. Everyone glanced toward Xiao Nanfeng from time to time. After all, the seventy-two Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court were renowned across the world. None expected that any Martial Aspect would only be a Heaven Immortal. Xiao Nanfeng had to be the weakest Martial Aspect in history!

"All competitors, heed this announcement!" an official cried out.

Everyone turned toward him.

"This tournament will be straightforward. Do you see the pagoda of quintessential solarfire and associated tokens floating in the air?" The official pointed within the barrier.

Everyone looked over to see a hundred air bubbles floating within the barrier, each containing an object. The most eyecatching was a golden pagoda; the other bubbles all contained tokens numbered from 2 to 100.

"The tournament will last for three days, and competitors will be ranked by the smallest-numbered token they can claim. Whoever seizes the pagoda of quintessential solarfire will be deemed the winner of the tournament."

"Understood!" thousands of competitors cried out.

"Everyone, please show your paperwork and have your cultivation verified as you enter the tournament grounds.

"Got it!" everyone replied.

Many officials were situated at the entrance to the tournament grounds. They were responsible for checking each competitor one final time to ensure that none of them were cheating.

Not only did they need to have their identities confirmed, they would have to channel their qi into a relic to have their cultivation measured.

Among the competitors were Heaven, Earth, and Human Immortals. After the inspection, they all streamed into the tournament grounds.

"Seal the barrier!" the official continued.

The exit to the barrier was sealed, isolating the tournament grounds from whatever lay beyond it. None would be able to enter or exit at will.

"The tournament begins now!" the official shouted again.

"The pagoda of quintessential solarfire is mine!"

"Don't you dare snatch it from me!"

"It's mine!"

Countless cultivators howled as they charged forward.

Many rushed to seize the treasure for themselves as the cultivators outside eagerly watched the spectacle. They were curious as to what the resulting fight would be like, as well as how strong the Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court truly was.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

As such, many of the cultivators were looking straight at Xiao Nanfeng, who was patiently waiting as overeager competitors rushed toward the pagoda. He swept his gaze over all the other competitors, watching them calmly.

Just then, a group of competitors who were staring at Xiao Nanfeng shot toward him as he 'relaxed'.

"Die!"

Three of the competitors roared as they transformed into tiger spirits. Whirlwinds surrounded them as they shot toward Xiao Nanfeng, their claws like divine armaments. Where they passed by, the void seemed to tear. Xiao Nanfeng looked as though he would be rent to shreds.

Many of the spectators gaped.

"The three great spirits of Mt. Fiend! Their choreographed attacks form a dynamic formation that augments their strength..."

"They're trying to take down Xiao Nanfeng and get rid of the largest threat first!"

"Together, the three tigers can even kill a peak Heaven Immortal. Xiao Nanfeng's done for now."

The cultivators couldn't help but fear for Xiao Nanfneg's safety.

Xiao Nanfeng scoffed. "Do you really think I'm here for the martial tournament? Reckless fools!"

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng summoned a huge palm from the void that smashed down and pressed the three tiger spirits into the ground in a huge plume of dust. They were rendered immobile instantly.