Chapter 572: Another Breakthrough

The pagoda of quintessential solarfire contained some quintessential solarfire mixed with varieties of weaker strength. To Xiao Nanfeng, however, none of that mattered. He would absorb all the flames and transform them into strength to fuel his advancement.

In the outer world, a Dayin official frowned. "Martial Aspect Xiao, that's the grand prize of the tournament. Please don't touch it until the tournament is over."

Xiao Nanfeng ignored him and continued to absorb the solarfire.

The official shouted, "Open up the barrier and stop Xiao Nanfeng! He's breaking the rules of the tournament and should be expelled from it!"

"Silence! The Immortal Emperor told us to preserve the area as is. No one is to interfere. Don't you dare open up the barrier!" a general called back.

"But he's destroying the pagoda of quintessential solarfire!"

"I know he's taking advantage of the situation, but the Immortal Emperor will deal with him soon enough. If you open up this barrier, you'll be defying a direct order from the emperor, and I'll be held accountable."

The official stiffened, but didn't dare say more.

Two hours later, Xiao Nanfeng had absorbed all the flames within the pagoda of quintessential solarfire.

The pagoda crumbled away into a heap of scrap metal, while the surging fire-attuned energy honed Xiao Nanfeng's body.

A burst of flames erupted from him as he opened his eyes.

"The seventh stage of the Heaven Immortal realm? He only advanced by a single minor stage after fully absorbing a Golden Immortal relic?"

"I heard that the Sky of Ten Suns was particularly draining in terms of cultivation resources, but this is ridiculous!"

"Not only that, he even lost four of his ten suns. What a pity..."

All sorts of regretful and envious murmurs came from the spectators still watching the tournament.

After that, a beam of golden light shot toward Dayin from afar—one of the golden-armored cultivators that had left with Yin Shenhua a few hours ago.

"By order of the Immortal Emperor, this martial tournament is to be canceled. The envoy of the Imperial Court, Xiao Nanfeng, is requested to return to the city lest another assassin strike. The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and Master Ao Shuai are requested to enter the city and help with the investigation as to the assassin's origins."

Then, the golden-armored cultivator dispelled the martial tournament's barrier.

A group of purple-furred monsters rushed to Xiao Nanfeng's side instantly.

On the other hand, a few of the officials responsible for the martial tournament glanced at each other, frowning. The pagoda of quintessential solarfire was gone; Xiao Nanfeng had destroyed it. Was he going to provide compensation?

But how? He was an imperial envoy, and the Immortal Emperor had requested his cooperation. If they were to make a fuss, they would be the ones to suffer for it.

They had no choice but to stand down.

"Martial Aspect Xiao, please!" The golden-armored cultivator flew up to Xiao Nanfeng's side.

Clearly, if Xiao Nanfeng were to refuse, he would force him to comply.

Xiao Nanfeng claimed the spoils proffered by the three tigers, then acknowledged the golden-armored cultivator's request. "Very well."

He turned to the three tigers. "You've done well. I shall take no offense over what happened during the tournament."

"Understood! Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" The three tigers bowed gratefully.

All those who had attempted to kill Xiao Nanfeng had died, including the archer and Monk Jinguang. They had been killed by the purple-furred monsters that had rushed in to guard Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng, escorted by the purple-furred monsters and the golden-armored cultivator, returned to the capital.

Meanwhile, Ao Shuai and the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost had been surrounded by other golden-armored cultivators as well.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned. He gave them all a chilling stare. He cared not for their supposed escort, and could even suppress them all with brute force, but what about Ao Shuai?

For Ao Shuai's safety, he had no choice but to nod. "Lead the way."

"Please follow us," the golden-armored cultivators replied.

The two parties headed for the capital, while the remaining cultivators quickly dispersed. Dayin's soldiers briefly interrogated them before allowing them to go free.

The martial tournament had ended in a mess.

Within the Sieve of Heaven, in the Hall of Martial Aspects, Ao Canghai sat before his study and listened to the reports being delivered to him. Several Martial Aspects stood by his side, frowning with serious looks on their faces.

After the reports had all been delivered, the Martial Aspects all looked dour.

"The young master really is mired in a mess this time around. If he's implicated for attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect, he'd be beheaded."

"Mo Shanhe had to be responsible. If I'm not mistaken, he must have installed a spy by the young master's side. Otherwise, Violetfrost would have known about the sale of the bow."

"Mo Shanhe deserves his fate. Serves him right for being kidnapped!"

The Martial Aspects fumed at what had happened.

Ao Canghai scowled. "Ao Shuai's actions were truly foolish."

"Eastern Aspect, although the young master might be in dangerous straits, everything will be fine so long as Xiao Nanfeng relents. He didn't make a fuss back then, but he's surely going to demand a great deal from us." One of the Martial Aspects frowned.

"Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng might not even be able to leave Dayin alive. No matter how much he wheedles from us, he may not have the good fortune to claim it for himself. Promise him something virtual—it'll be no loss to us either way. We simply have to prioritize rescuing the young master," another Martial Aspect suggested.

Ao Canghai was silent for a moment before he nodded. "Very well. Have Violetfrost deal with Xiao Nanfeng. Keep reporting back to me."

"Understood!" everyone replied.

"Eastern Aspect, Violetfrost and the young master have been detained by Dayin. Do we need to head there and rescue him?" one of the Martial Aspects asked.

"There's no need. Violetfrost wasn't the assassin, so they won't be able to keep him there for long. Have them negotiate terms with Xiao Nanfeng and then leave immediately. They can't remain in Dayin for long," Ao Canghai said.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

On the largest guest island in Dayin's capital, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhao Yuanjiao stood by a banister on the floating island as they looked down on the city outstretched before them.

"Emperor Feng succeeded in capturing Mo Shanhe—I can't believe it," Zhao Yuanjiao said.

"Dayin's going to be a mess, now," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.

"He did something to my soul to prevent me from running away. How troublesome." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.

"I've already sent a subordinate to help search for the Taiqing Demonic Sect's sect master. He's skilled with spiritual techniques and may be able to free you from Emperor Feng's clutches. Hold on patiently," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Zhao Yuanjiao nodded. "Now that you've basically been imprisoned by Dayin, what are you going to do?"

"I'm waiting for Ao Shuai to provide compensation for what he did. Then, I'm going to seek an audience with Yin Shenhua. Now that he's out of secluded cultivation, it's time for him to pay up."

"What? Do you really intend to claim 60% of Dayin's fortune?" Zhao Yuanjiao exclaimed.

"Why not? Rather than allow myself to be imprisoned, then killed after Dayin decides to rebel, I'd rather seek him out while he's not yet ready. Who knows? I might succeed." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Zhao Yuanjiao gave him an odd look. He couldn't help but think that Xiao Nanfeng was being carried away by wishful thinking.