Chapter 594: A Battle at Yongding

Days later, in Yongding, despite the fact that Yin Shenhua had destroyed Xuanhuang Hall, it had been repaired within a few days' time.

Just then, Ao Zhou, Zhang Lingjun, and a large group of imperial soldiers were gathered in the plaza of Xuanhuang Hall. Xiao Nanfeng's avatar was waiting for them there.

"Xiao Nanfeng," Zhang Lingjun said, her eyes brightening as she walked over and saw him.

"Princess, it's good to see you here." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Ao Zhou frowned. "Why did you leave us along the way, Xiao Nanfeng?"

"My other body has other affairs it has to handle. Isn't it fine for my avatar to welcome you?"

"Where's everyone else?" Ao Zhou glanced around him.

"Purportedly, you're the first Martial Aspect to arrive," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects really loathe you, don't they? Princess, you're the overseer responsible for noting what the Martial Aspects are doing, aren't you? It's clear that they're deliberately wasting time right now!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

Zhang Lingjun turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Is the situation urgent?"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Yin Shenhua's been trapped in the red moon illusory realm for a few days. Plenty of his subordinates have arrived and are surrounding Yongding."

"Yin Shenhua's subordinates? Golden Immortals, then?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Golden Immortals—and perhaps even stronger cultivators, too."

Ao Zhou blanched. "Is this a joke? How are we supposed to help you with Golden Immortals surrounding Yongding? If Ao Canghai and the others aren't yet here, doesn't that mean that we're in danger?"

"Ao Canghai and the others should already be here by now. Ao Canghai's a wily old fox. He wouldn't dare deliberately disobey the Heavenly Emperor's commands," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Oh?"

"They must be hiding and observing the situation from a distance," he surmised.

"Those damn scumbags!" Ao Zhou cursed.

"What now?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"We'll wait for Yin Shenhua," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Oh?"

"Yin Shenhua entered the red moon illusory realm by tracing the portal I opened. If he frees himself, he'll likely emerge somewhere around me. I predict he'll be showing up shortly," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

Just then, with a rip, a huge portal opened up in the sky above Yongding. Red light flashed within the portal, and a tremendous aura emanated from it. Everyone in Yongding felt an intense pressure pushing them down.

"Did Yin Shenhua just free himself? What a coincidence..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you tricked me into heading into the depths of the red moon illusory realm! But even that clearly hasn't trapped me. Where are you going to run now?" Yin Shenhua demanded, noticing Xiao Nanfeng and the others by the entrance to Xuanhuang Hall immediately.

"Yin Shenhua, shouldn't you ask why I'm waiting here for you instead?" Xiao Nanfeng called out.

Yin Shenhua stepped out of the portal leading into the red moon illusory realm, which vanished behind him. Killing intent exuded from him as golden beams of light surrounded Yin Shenhua.

"Immortal Emperor, Xiao Nanfeng was scheming against you! What you said a few days ago in Xuanhuang Hall was reported in real time to the Imperial Court!"

"Our subordinates within the Imperial Court have passed on word that the Heavenly Emperor has deemed you a rebel and sent the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant to capture you."

"This was all part of Xiao Nanfeng's scheme!"

Yin Tianci's subordinates quickly reported the situation to him.

"What?" Yin Shenhua blanched.

"Yin Shenhua, I recommend that you surrender. The eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant have already set up a formation to trap you. Neither you nor your subordinates will be able to leave Yongding today."

Yin Shenhua's eyes widened. He inspected his surroundings carefully.

Outside Yongding, on the peak of a fog-wreathed mountain, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects watched on, hidden within the fog.

They frowned upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng's words.

"Xiao Nanfeng's a bastard. He knows we're here and is trying to force us to work on his behalf!"

"He didn't send his other body over, only Princess Lingjun. Is he trying to use her against us?"

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"He went into hiding himself, and he wants us to take on Yin Shenhua on his behalf! How much more shameless can he get?"

The Martial Aspects were all fuming.

Beside them, Ao Canghai was stony-faced. He had been waiting for Yin Shenhua to strike Xiao Nanfeng down before making his move, but that didn't seem feasible in this scenario.

Indeed, Yin Shenhua's senses were strong enough that he quickly sensed the bulk of the eighteen Martial Aspects atop the fog-wreathed mountain.

He frowned and sent blades of killing intent all around him.

He clearly knew that there were many cultivators of incredible strength among the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant, far stronger than Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou were. If they were to strike at him at full force, he would be in significant danger.

However, because news of what had happened within the Imperial Court had spread, his subordinates had all received word and were ready to assist him.

"Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, thank you for helping me protect Yongding on my behalf. I'll surely acknowledge your efforts and commend you to the Heavenly Emperor!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

The fog on the mountain peak vanished, revealing Ao Canghai and the gathered Martial Aspects.

Ao Canghai eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly, feeling deeply aggrieved. If not for the Heavenly Emperor's direct order, he would never have come to protect Yongding.

In exasperation, Ao Canghai called out, "Yin Shenhua, for attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect, the Heavenly Emperor has deemed you a traitor. Follow us."

"Follow you? On what grounds? Ao Canghai, haven't you been preparing to fight me already? We're simply having this fight in advance! Since we're both here, we might as well start now!" Yin Shenhua called back.

Ao Canghai was deeply frustrated. He had been waiting for Yin Shenhua to take on Xiao Nanfeng. How had the situation been warped to such an extent?

However, with Zhang Lingjun overseeing them from afar, he had no choice but to step forward. He suspected that Zhang Lingjun wasn't the only one observing the fight. The Heavenly Emperor's gaze might well be on the area, too. He had no choice but to strike.

"So be it. Martial Aspects, seize this traitor alongside me!" Ao Canghai roared.

"Understood!" the Martial Aspects all around replied.

Then, Ao Canghai shot straight toward Yin Shenhua, accompanied by his fellow Martial Aspects.

"Attack," Yin Shenhua commanded coldly.

"Understood!" Yin Shenhua's subordinates replied.

Yin Shenhua sent a fist at Ao Canghai. The two cultivators' fists struck each other in mid-air in a flaming tempest. The other Martial Aspects likewise began to coordinate against Yin Shenhua's subordinates in a barrage of fire and storm.

Meanwhile, the defensive formations around Yongding activated in its entirety, and 361 stars began to glow in the night sky as the Formation of the Complete Heavens fully activated. Blue fog surrounded the city's civilians to protect them, dissipating all the force that came their way. The fog vibrated intensely as attacks landed, but all the civilians remained safe.

By the entrance to Xuanhuang Hall, Xiao Nanfeng stood right before Zhang Lingjun as he opened a portal into the red moon illusory realm with one arm and held on tightly to the Dazheng Code of Laws with the other. He had never before fought with the Code of Laws before, but it was undoubtedly his greatest treasure.

At present, however, everything was going according to Xiao Nanfeng's plan, and he didn't need to use his ultimate techniques just yet.

Zhang Lingjun couldn't help but feel warm, pressed tightly against Xiao Nanfeng as he protected her.

Meanwhile, Ao Zhou gaped as he watched the Martial Aspects fight against Yin Shenhua and his subordinates. "This is ridiculous. They're all Golden Immortals, aren't they? The void itself is rippling from the shockwaves of their attacks! If I join in, I'd be done for!"

"No one expects you to fight. You're just here for an even count," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Oh?"

"The eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant must all be present for the capture of Yin Shenhua, even if you're all but useless. Otherwise, it'd be easy for someone to take advantage of your absence," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Ao Zhou frowned thoughtfully.

Zhang Lingjun asked by his side, "Will Ao Canghai and the others really be able to take down Yin Shenhua?"

"I don't know, but even if Ao Canghai can do so, he surely wouldn't."

"Oh?"

"Ao Canghai wants me to suffer, after all. The only reason Yin Shenhua didn't attack me directly was because the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant took him off guard. Sooner or later, he's going to understand the situation and attack me. He'd rather withstand a few blows from Ao Canghai than to let me go free."

"Is it really that dangerous? Why don't we run off and let them keep fighting, then?" Ao Zhou asked.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "The only reason Ao Canghai and the others are making a move is because I'm here. If even I flee, they'll have a reason to stop protecting Yongding, and Ao Canghai will decide to evacuate."

"What are we to do, then? If we drag things out, it won't be in your favor!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

"Don't worry. I'm prepared. That's why my other body split up from you."

"What can it do? Take on Yin Shenhua?" Ao Zhou asked disbelievingly.

"I can't take down Yin Shenhua, of course, but I can attack where he's undefended."

"Oh?"

"Most of Dayin's strongest cultivators are here at Yongding to protect Yin Shenhua. Doesn't that mean that Dayin's capital is defenseless?"

"What? Your other body's launching an attack on Dayin's capital? Are you crazy? You're only a Heaven Immortal! Even if the bulk of Dayin's forces are here, you'd never be able to take down its capital. It's Yin Shenhua's home base, and there are sure to be plenty of Golden Immortals there. You've got a death wish!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

"With effort, one can achieve anything," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng's main body had just arrived outside Dayin's capital. The black lotus floated beside him.

"Senior, the battle at Yongding has begun. Please assist me in making a mess of Dayin's capital," Xiao Nanfeng requested.

"You really are bold to be attacking Dayin's capital at this juncture..." the black lotus remarked.

"I've never been able to get anywhere by treading lightly. Let's make our move!" Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Very well," the black lotus replied.