Chapter 604: Xiao Nanfeng Takes Down the Bandit-Quelling Army

Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun stepped within. Ao Canghai and ten Martial Aspects were already seated. The other Martial Aspects weren't in Yongding; it wasn't clear where they were.

Ao Canghai had a sip of tea. "Xiao Nanfeng, why have you summoned all of us at this late hour?"

"Eastern Aspect, Martial Aspects, I'm here on account of the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's death," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost scoffed. "You killed Bluefrost. How can you be so shameless as to summon us here?"

Zhang Lingjun frowned and interrupted, "Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, do you have any evidence of your claims? It's clear who killed the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost. If you insist on making a fuss over purported wrongdoing and slandering Xiao Nanfeng, we'll seek out the Heavenly Emperor for arbitration."

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost's gaze was frosty. He was about to reply when Ao Canghai broke him off. "Enough. We'll listen to what Xiao Nanfeng has to say."

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost barely suppressed his anger as he turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng said anew, "Eastern Aspect, I'm sure you saw the culprit behind the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's death."

"It was a roc, along with some accomplices. If I'm not mistaken, that roc must be Yin Shenhua's second son, Yin Peng," the Eastern Aspect replied.

"Since you know the identity of the killer, everyone, would you be willing to avenge the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost by taking down Yin Peng and his accomplices?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost scoffed again. "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, Yin Peng's the commander in charge of the bandit-quelling army, and he's poised to strike down your army. Do you intend for us to take him down on your behalf since you know you won't be able to defeat him head-on?"

"No," Xiao Nanfeng replied firmly. "As I said, I don't intend to request your assistance when it comes to the war at large. I have my own plans in mind. I simply ask for your aid when there are isolated Golden Immortals that you may attack. I don't intend to go back on my word. However, I feel obligated to do something given the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's death," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Oh?" Ao Canghai said.

"If I can bring the culprit behind the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's death before you, Eastern Aspect, are you willing to avenge the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"And can you send Yin Peng before me? Do you intend to lure the entire army over, then have me take down its commander?" Ao Canghai retorted.

"I won't—only Yin Peng and several of his accomplices, no one else."

Ao Canghai was taken aback.

Beside him, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was clearly doubtful of Xiao Nanfeng's claim. "What nonsense are you talking about, Xiao Nanfeng? We're all in Yongding. Why would Yin Peng barge into Yongding on his own? Do you take him for a fool?"

Xiao Nanfeng ignored him. He turned toward Ao Canghai. "Eastern Aspect, what do you think?"

"If you can bring Bluefrost's killer over, we won't let them flee," Ao Canghai declared.

"We won't!" the other Martial Aspects agreed.

"Very well. I'll give it a try, then. However, once the culprits are dead, except for Yin Peng's head, which shall be sacrificed to pacify the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's soul, I want the rest of their corpses," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The group of Martial Aspects gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. So that was Xiao Nanfeng's plan—to gain all that profit for minimal expenditure in his own right.

"Try it, then," Ao Canghai said, disbelief stark on his face.

"I shall bear witness of this arrangement," Zhang Lingjun declared.

Ao Canghai couldn't help but frown at this pronouncement, sensing that something was amiss. He immediately added, "However, I'll only give you ten days. After ten days, no matter what happens next, this arrangement shall be nullified.

"Ten days is more than sufficient. Yin Peng will be delivered to you within a quarter of an hour," Xiao Nanfeng promised.

"Hm?" The Martial Aspects were taken aback.

Just then, a frightening aura surrounded Yongding. The entire city shook violently.

"An enemy raid!"

"The defensive formation around the city's in ruins!"

"Golden Immortals?!"

Frenzied shouts could be heard from outside.

All the Martial Aspects rushed out of the hall to see the defensive barrier around Yongding cracked to an incredible extent, as if it would shatter at any moment. High in the air, a roc could be seen, its wings outspread, golden radiance illuminating it in the night. Beside it were two Golden Immortal spirits, one a giant elephant and the other a blue lion. Killing intent surged around them all.

"Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" the roc howled.

The elephant and lion spirits roared and charged toward the defensive formation around the city once more.

The formation shattered. A howling tempest surrounded the city as the elephant and lion spirits' attacks shot toward the palace, intending to turn it into rubble.

"You bastards! Do you think you'll be able to get away with killing Bluefrost?" the Martial Aspects roared out.

They made their move, obliterating the two Golden Immortal spirits' attacks before charging into the air to take on the three Golden Immortals.

"What? What's Ao Canghai doing here?" the lion spirit exclaimed.

"Your Highness, didn't you say that all the Martial Aspects were outside the Immortal city of Luye?" the elephant spirit trumpeted.

"Damn it, it's a trap! We've fallen for it! Escape!" The roc blanched and turned to flee, but Ao Canghai blocked his way and slammed forward with a palm. The roc, sensing death looming, found his feathers standing on end. He defended to the best of his ability, but was still flung back. A flaming tempest formed from the impact.

"Don't you think it's too late to flee?" Ao Canghai demanded.

"Die!" the Martial Aspects roared, charging forward.

Ao Canghai was present alongside ten other Martial Aspects; their opponents consisted solely of the golden roc and two Golden Immortal spirits. If they somehow allowed their opponents to escape, they might as well give up their title of Martial Aspect.

Fire and wind howled in the skies above Yongding.

Yongding's secondary defensive formation activated rapidly, protecting the civilians of the city.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you tricked me!" the roc screeched.

Down below, Xiao Nanfeng stood before Zhang Lingjun, protecting her, as he looked up at the sky.

"How did you manage such a feat?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed in surprise.

"I came up with a trap. It worked wonders, didn't it?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"You really are incredible," Zhang Lingjun murmured, her eyes filling with admiration.

Meanwhile, within Luye, not long after Yin Peng and the two Golden Immortal spirits left the city, several golden beams of light headed back to the city from different directions. The other three Golden Immortal spirits had made it back in time.

"Isn't His Highness around?" one asked.

"His Highness is launching a sneak attack on Yongding. He wanted me to relay to you that there are plenty of Martial Aspects in ambush outside the city. If something is amiss, you're to flee immediately," one of Yin Peng's subordinates reported.

"Oh?" One of the Golden Immortal spirits clearly seemed confused.

"However, His Highness wishes for all of you to relax. He's about to take down Yongding, and the Martial Aspects outside Luye will likely return once they receive the news. His Highness asks that you aid him by stalling the Martial Aspects outside."

"Very well." The three Golden Immortal spirits all nodded.

Far from the city, within Dazheng's demon-slaying army's garrison, Xiao Nanfeng walked out of the commander's tent. The cultivators behind him were dressed in Martial Aspects' robes, their faces shrouded in fog.

"There's no need for the act any longer. Everything's been settled. You may go," Xiao Nanfeng declared.

The cultivators immediately cleared away the fog surrounding them, revealing a group of unfamiliar faces. One bowed. "Understood, Your Majesty!"

That man clearly wasn't Ao Canghai, but his voice was identical. It had been him pretending to converse with Xiao Nanfeng within the tent all along.

Just then, Ye Dafu, Ye Sanshui, and the others rapidly flew over.

"Your Majesty, are we about to attack Luye?" Ye Dafu asked.

"Do so now, and do so quickly!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Ye Dafu rallied the army as it began to march toward Luye.

At the same time, Xiao Nanfeng flew toward Luye. "Senior, it's all thanks to your spiritual senses. I wouldn't have known where Yin Peng was otherwise."

The black lotus flew out of Xiao Nanfeng's mindscape. "He's a reincarnated cursed effigy as well, and he shares the same source of cursed spiritual power as I do. I sensed him the moment he got past the barrier, which was overlaid with my cursed spiritual power. As for you, you truly are a schemer."

"Thank you for the praise, Senior." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "There are three Golden Immortal spirits in the city, and I'll need your assistance once more."

"Golden Immortals? If they all attempt to flee, I won't be able to take them down," the black lotus said.

"There's no need to worry, Senior. Blue Lantern is positioned within the city and is now in control of all its formations thanks to the city lord's help. I and Blue Lantern will stall two of the Golden Immortal spirits while you quickly take down the last one. We'll have to work fast before Yin Shenhua sends reinforcements over."

"Very well!"

By then, the demon-slaying army had marched right up to Luye.

"Enemy attack!" a guard on the watchtower shouted.

With a creak, the gates to Luye were flung open.

"Who opened the gates?!" the guards demanded angrily.

"Over here, quickly!" Someone directed the demon-slaying army into Luye.

"Spies! Dazheng's spies have let Dazheng's army in!" the guard shouted.

Just then, the city lord ordered, "All soldiers of Luye, do not resist. Do not strike. Remain at your positions and do nothing, or you shall be branded a traitor."

"Is that the city lord? What's he planning? Why aren't we to resist?" countless soldiers and guards cried out.

The city lord's newly appointed generals made their rounds, forbidding any of the soldiers and guards from taking action.

Meanwhile, glimmering lights shot up all around Luye, forming miniature barriers that locked down the city.

"Who's activating these formations and trapping the bandit-quelling army?!" a Golden Immortal spirit shouted.

The next moment, as a ray of golden light flashed by, the Golden Immortal spirit was sent flying. He smashed into the barrier in the air. Chains of light emerged from the barrier and bound him to its surface tightly.

"Damn it, let me go!" the Golden Immortal spirit yelled out.

"Something's wrong. We have to flee!" another Golden Immortal spirit shouted.

"It's too late!" the black lotus called out.

As golden radiance illuminated the skies, the black lotus transformed into the form of the Past Buddha and thrust a palm toward the bound spirit.