Chapter 564: Killing All Who Resist

Xiao Nanfeng easily took down the three tiger spirits in the blink of an eye, shocking the spectators.

"What a monster! Even though it was a sneak attack, Xiao Nanfeng's attack landed first and easily suppressed his enemies!"

"Is this how strong a Martial Aspect is? Xiao Nanfeng might only be a Heaven Immortal, but he's incredible!"

"Three Heaven Immortal tiger spirits—and they weren't able to defend against his attack at all!"

Many spectators were astounded by the sight.

Then, another batch of cultivators shot toward Xiao Nanfeng. They swung their weapons at him, sending sword slashes his way like meteors falling from the sky, prepared to obliterate him.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't seem able to defend himself while suppressing the three tiger spirits—until ten beams of golden light shot out of his body. With coordinated caws, ten golden crows emerged in a wave of fire, their claws as sharp as divine armaments, their feathers like an array of blades. They struck down those who would dare attack Xiao Nanfeng.

The attacks aimed at Xiao Nanfeng shattered as the ten golden crows shot forward, their feathers and claws claiming the lives of the assailants.

Dozens of cultivators were torn to shreds, their blood raining down from the sky.

"That's ridiculous..."

"Some of those cultivators were Heaven Immortals, weren't they? Xiao Nanfeng took them all down in a single blow!"

"Ten golden crows—Xiao Nanfeng might easily sweep the tournament!"

All sorts of astonished cries came from outside the barrier.

Even the official responsible for the tournament gulped in surprise.

All the competitors were watching Xiao Nanfeng now, surprise flashing through their eyes.

The three tiger spirits whom Xiao Nanfeng continued to suppress glanced fearfully at him. One of them cried out, "Martial Aspect Xiao, please spare us. We were blinded by greed! Please, forgive us!"

Xiao Nanfeng questioned the three of them. "Who instigated you to strike?"

The three tiger spirits blanched. One reported, "We did it ourselves. No one told us to. We wanted to finish off the greatest threat first so we could claim the grand prize."

"Do you think the likes of you are strong enough for the grand prize? Are you trying to insult my intelligence?!"

"We really were—"

Three golden crows swooped down as they cawed, their claws piercing into the three tiger spirits' bodies and causing them to shout in pain.

Then, they soared into the air and held the three tiger spirits up there.

Xiao Nanfeng suddenly called out, "The three of you, listen up. If you continue to insult my intelligence, don't expect any mercy. Cough it up—who instigated you to strike at me? Tell me now and I'll spare your lives."

"No one!" a tiger spirit shouted.

"Indeed? Let's see if the mastermind cares, then. I'll give you ten breaths within which to confess. If no one attempts to save you, I'll kill you all."

"One!"

"Two!"

As Xiao Nanfeng counted off, all the cultivators in the vicinity, spectators and competitors alike, turned to watch the spectacle. Even those trying to fight for the pagoda glanced around.

The three tiger spirits were trussed up in the air by Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows and rendered wholly immobile. They could see the remnants of the cultivators who had attacked Xiao Nanfeng and knew that he was a man of his word. They glanced at the mastermind, who seemed to have no intention of stepping forward, and blanched.

"Eight!"

"Nine!"

Xiao Nanfeng continued dispassionately.

"I'll talk, I'll talk! Monk Jinguang had us attack you. He's right there—that's him!"

"Mt. Fiend, our lair, is right beside the Jinguang Temple that he's in charge of. The monks of that temple invaded Mt. Fiend, refusing to negotiate with us, and caught countless tiger spirits under our control. He has our wives and children, so I was forced to listen to his orders!"

"Monk Jinguang forced us all to participate!"

The three tiger spirits anxiously pointed in a certain direction where a monk was standing, his body glowing with a resplendent golden gleam. A sun emerged from his back, from which a three-legged crow stepped out. The monk knocked aside his fellow competitors with his crow and caught the pagoda of quintessential solarfire in one fell swoop.

Whoever had the pagoda by the end of the tournament would receive the grand prize. That this monk had been able to claim it so quickly was a clear indicator of his strength.

Xiao Nanfeng turned toward the monk and asked coldly, "Are you Monk Jinguang?"

"Amitabha. I, Jinguang, greet Martial Aspect Xiao." The monk smiled.

He flew toward Xiao Nanfeng with the pagoda of quintessential solarfire in hand, the three-legged golden crow to his back gleaming with light.

The other competitors in the vicinity who had intended on stepping forward held themselves back instead. They could all see that Monk Jinguang might very well end up in conflict with Xiao Nanfeng; in the best-case scenario, they would take each other out.

"Were you looking for me?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"I simply wanted to test out how strong Martial Aspects from the Imperial Court are. You are skilled," Monk Jinguang replied.

"Since you've been exposed, there's no need for us to talk further, is there?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The next moment, three of his golden crows shot toward Monk Jinguang.

Monk Jinguang narrowed his eyes. "Let's see if your sunformed golden crow is stronger, or mine."

The golden crow to his back shot forward as both parties' golden crows struck at each other.

His crow was sent careening back, its feathers torn to pieces. It didn't seem to be a match for Xiao Nanfeng's.

"Three against one? Xiao Nanfeng, are cheap tricks all you can pull off? Let's see how strong your crows are, then! Pagoda of quintessential solarfire, seal!" Monk Jinguang commanded.

The pagoda he held in his hand suddenly magnified in size. It released a dizzying array of flames that struck at Xiao Nanfeng's three golden crows.

How strong would a Golden Immortal relic be? The aura that emanated from Monk Jinguang left the other competitors shocked.

"Can he use a Golden Immortal relic so easily? Doesn't he need to attune to it at all?"

"What a frightening relic..."

"Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows are in danger."

Many of the competitors gaped.

Suddenly, Xiao Nanfeng snapped his wrist, sending his golden net forward and capturing the pagoda of quintessential solarfire with it.

The golden net and pagoda released blinding golden light as they sought to overwhelm one another, a flaming tempest forming around them. In the end, however, the pagoda won out.

Monk Jinguang blanched as he attempted to manipulate the pagoda, but was unable to release it from the golden net at all. He roared in outrage.

Then, four golden crows cawed as they shot toward Monk Jinguang, who tossed a golden plate at them.

Two of the golden crows were struck by the plate and forced to retreat, while the other two dug their claws right into Monk Jinguang's body.

"Die, foul beasts!" Monk Jinguang shouted.

He began to fight with the golden crows, but before long, he was bleeding all over.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng's three other golden crows had brutalized Monk Jinguang's lone golden crow. With a sharp rip, they tore it apart in a burst of flames.

"No!" Monk Jinguang cried out.

His sunformed golden crow exploded, its flames quickly being absorbed by Xiao Nanfeng's own golden crows. The resulting backlash caused Monk Jinguang to vomit out a mouthful of blood. Xiao Nanfeng's other crows, taking advantage of his incapacitance, quickly tore him apart. He collapsed into a pool of blood.

One golden crow speared its claws through his body and flew back to Xiao Nanfeng with his prone body in tow.

"Monk Jinguang was a peak Heaven Immortal! How could he have lost so easily even with the pagoda of quintessential solarfire?!"

"Xiao Nanfeng didn't even attack on his own. All he did was release his golden crows!"

"Xiao Nanfeng's way too strong..."

Many of the spectators gulped as they watched Xiao Nanfeng fight.

"Go on. Where did you hide the princess?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

The competitors who were planning to rush over to steal the pagoda of quintessential solarfire paused. Wasn't Xiao Nanfeng here to seek revenge? Why was he asking about the princess now?

"What princess?" Monk Jinguang exclaimed.

"Are you still trying to feign ignorance? You kidnapped the princess several days ago, and she still hasn't been found. Then, you sent me a letter telling me to participate in this tournament if I wanted to know where she was. Look at this letter and this ornament that belongs to the princess. Didn't you write this letter? Aren't you going to admit it?!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

The cultivators all around were taken aback.

Only then did they realize why Xiao Nanfeng had taken part in the tournament. That made sense. Otherwise, what Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court would deign to participate in a martial tournament hosted by a divine empire? That would only sully their reputation.

Monk Jinguang frowned. "I've never seen this letter before, and I know nothing of it. It's none of my business!"

"Don't make me raze your Jinguang Temple to the ground once we're out of here," Xiao Nanfeng threatened.

"I don't know anything. I swear it!" Monk Jinguang shouted.

"General Zeng," Xiao Nanfeng called out.

Outside the barrier, a purple-furred monster stepped forward and shouted, "Here!"

"Gather your forces and lead them to Jinguang Temple immediately. Capture everyone there and kill whoever resists," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!"

Not far away, the three tiger spirits shuddered in fear. Was this the might of a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court? He was far too strong!

Monk Jinguang blanched, horror evident on his face. "No, I'm not responsible! I didn't send this letter, and neither did I kidnap the princess. I'll swear on my cultivation!"

"I don't trust your oaths," Xiao Nanfeng retorted.

"Martial Aspect Xiao, I also cultivate the Golden Crow of the Sun. Just as the pagoda of quintessential solarfire benefits you, so too will it benefit me! That's why I attacked you. I wouldn't dare kidnap the princess!"

"Whether or not you're responsible, we'll find out in no time. Even if you're not responsible, whoever lured me here must be present as well. Over the next three days, none of you will be able to leave. I'll interrogate all of you!" Xiao Nanfeng announce.

"What?" Monk Jinguang exclaimed.

"As I said, I'll interrogate everyone in this tournament. I'll kill whoever dares resist!"

All the cultivators, competitors and spectators alike, were taken aback.

Was Xiao Nanfeng going to treat this martial tournament like his private prison? Would he really dare to interrogate everyone within? Didn't he care about his reputation or rousing the ire of all the cultivators around?