Chapter 623: Full-Fledged War

Beyond Dayin's capital, Ao Canghai and a group of his subordinates stood beneath the peak of a mountain, staring at the city. He could sense Yin Shenhua's aura, and he knew that Yin Shenhua's Golden Immortals had all been dispatched.

At the moment, all the external forces' Golden Immortals were part of an alliance that intended to split the spoils of Dayin. He was at Dayin's capital because he was confident that the other Martial Aspects would be able to guard his Immortal cities; all he needed to do was ensure that Yin Shenhua couldn't get away.

Just then, one of his subordinates blanched. "Eastern Aspect, something's wrong! The Immortal cities in which the Martial Aspects are located—Dayin's Golden Immortal cursed effigies are heading straight to them!"

"So be it. Inform the other Golden Immortals to support them," Ao Canghai replied.

"All those Golden Immortals are fighting among themselves! No one's available to provide assistance."

"What?!" Ao Canghai exclaimed.

"Some of those Golden Immortals are even working together with the Golden Immortal cursed effigies to gang up on the trapped Martial Aspects..."

"Could there have been traitors among those in collusion with me?!" Ao Canghai exclaimed.

"Eastern Aspect, the Immortal Emperor of Dazhen requests aid. They've been trapped by Dachi's Golden Immortals!" another subordinate reported.

"Those bastards—they're working with Yin Shenhua! Damn it!"

The next moment, Ao Canghai took to the skies. He was just about to leave when a giant palm from the heavens descended toward him.

Ao Canghai grimaced as he defended himself.

The two palms met in an explosion of energy.

"Yin Shenhua?" Ao Canghai exclaimed.

"Ao Canghai, since you've already come to Dayin's capital, why leave?" Yin Shenhua smirked.

Was this a trap?" Ao Canghai demanded.

"You shouldn't have been so greedy. You caused me significant losses in the past, so it's your turn to suffer now," Yin Shenhua said.

The two cultivators began to fight.

Outside an Immortal city of Dayin, a Martial Aspect was fighting against a Buddha. The Buddha was stronger, but the Martial Aspect had the support of many of its subordinates. The two forces were relatively evenly matched, at least for the time being.

In a forest in the distance, Xiao Nanfeng and the black lotus, in the guise of the Past Buddha, were staring at the battlefield before them.

"Do you really intend to help?" the black lotus asked.

"Yin Shenhua allied with the leaders of a few forces to take down the Martial Aspects. If they all die, we'll be in danger too. What's more, if the Martial Aspects are badly hurt or killed and we do nothing, we would be held accountable when we return to the Imperial Court," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Should we wait a little longer?" the black lotus asked.

"Not too long. Yin Shenhua likely gave up several of his cities to gain the help of these other forces. It's an alliance that involves actual transactions, one far more stable than Ao Canghai's promises alone. If things drag out and the equilibrium is shifted beyond recovery, the situation will be highly unfavorable to us. Now is the best time to strike," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The black lotus nodded. "Very well. I'll make my move now, then."

"Senior, don't worry. Not all the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant are necessarily loyal to Ao Canghai. We won't save those who are completely loyal to him, nor those whom he trusts without fail."

"Very well!"

The black lotus shot into the battlefield.

Although the death chants that the Buddha gave off were useless against the Martial Aspect, they were clearly effective against the Martial Aspect's subordinates. Dazed, they were easy prey for the Buddha. The resulting chain reaction left the Martial Aspect grievously injured as well.

"Martial Aspect, flee! Ignore us!" one of his subordinates cried out.

The Buddha sneered. "If you leave, I'll kill your subordinates to the last."

"You—!" The Martial Aspect gritted his teeth in outrage.

Just then, a golden palm descended from the heavens, shocking the Buddha. The Buddha quickly retaliated with a palm, but was nevertheless sent flying by the attack.

The Martial Aspect gaped in shock. Someone—the black lotus—had saved him.

"Martial Aspect of Lightseeking, assist the Venerable Buddha! Don't let that enemy Buddha escape!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted from afar.

The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking blinked in surprise, not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be the one to save him.

There was no time to lose. He nodded immediately and shot toward the Buddha.

The Buddha struck the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking and sent him flying back, but its delay in doing so meant that the black lotus was able to slam a palm directly against the Buddha's head, dizzying and disorienting it.

Then, the black lotus reverted to its original form and absorbed the Buddha from the underside of its body before flying back into Xiao Nanfeng's mindscape.

The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking flew toward Xiao Nanfeng and bowed gratefully. "Thank you for your assistance, Martial Aspect Xiao."

"Of course, Martial Aspect. You've guarded Yongding for me all this time, and it's only natural that I would assist you in your time of need."

The Martial Aspect of Lightseeking's features scrunched up in guilt. Although he wasn't one of Ao Canghai's confidantes, he tended to obey Ao Canghai's orders to cause Xiao Nanfeng trouble.

"Martial Aspect of Lightseeking, Dayin is retaliating against the Martial Aspects in full force. Let's hurry up and help out the others," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"Very well. Please allow me to express my gratitude again, Martial Aspect Xiao. I shall thank you properly once all this is over."

Then, the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking gathered his subordinates and slaughtered the Buddha's remaining subordinates. After making arrangements, he headed off to help out the other Martial Aspects.

Xiao Nanfeng and the black lotus left quickly as well. The black lotus had just devoured a Buddha and was in the process of distilling it into essence.

After some time, Xiao Nanfeng arrived in another Immortal city, whereupon he quickly hid in the forests.

From afar, he saw two bodhisattvas surrounding a Martial Aspect, who was in dire straits.

"Just like the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking, this Martial Aspect isn't one of Ao Canghai's confidantes. We can rescue her."

"Very well." The black lotus transformed into the Past Buddha and flew over.

Outside Dayin's capital, Ao Canghai and Yin Shenhua's fight grew more and more intense.

"Leave? Didn't you refuse to let me leave last time? Then you can hardly object if I were to do the same to you this time," Yin Shenhua retorted.

Ao Canghai sighed in frustration. He wanted to explain that he had been intending to let Yin Shenhua off, only to be tricked by a Golden Immortal impersonating a Martial Aspect of the Southern quadrant.

"Eastern Aspect, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost has been killed!" a subordinate howled from afar.

Ao Canghai blanched. He shouted back, "Contact Xiao Nanfeng and have him support the other Martial Aspects!"

At the same time, a Dayin official shouted, "Your Majesty, Xiao Nanfeng and the Venerable Buddha saved the Martial Aspect of Lightseeking and killed Buddha Gavampati!"

"Xiao Nanfeng is truly an annoyance," Yin Shenhua murmured coldly. He sent his subordinates a mental transmission. "Have the Immortal Emperor of Dachi deal with the Venerable Buddha, now!"

"Understood!" his subordinates replied.

In a dim hall, a man sat on a draconic throne as he listened to his subordinates' reports.

"Your Majesty, Yin Shenhua requests that you deal with the Venerable Buddha," his subordinate said.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi, from atop his throne, murmured, "Yin Shenhua is fond of commanding others, isn't he?"

Just then, another subordinate rushed into the hall. "Your Majesty, an envoy from Dazheng seeks an audience."

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Oh? That youth Xiao Nanfeng sent last time? Has he remained behind specifically to facilitate communication? Send him in, then," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi commanded.

"Understood!"

Very quickly, a youth was brought into the hall, which was dim to the extent of being sinister. Even so, the youth didn't seem perturbed. He bowed. "On His Majesty's orders, I greet the Immortal Emperor of Dachi."

"Xiao Nanfeng should be busy making advances in Dayin at the moment, shouldn't he? What are you doing here?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi asked.

"His Majesty would like to know how many Immortal cities Yin Shenhua promised you, Immortal Emperor," the youth replied.

"Hm?" The Immortal Emperor of Dachi raised an eyebrow. His gaze turned cold.

"His Majesty said that, according to Dazheng's predictions, Yin Shenhua likely promised you twenty Immortal cities, Immortal Emperor," the youth continued.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi stared at the youth. Yin Shenhua had only promised him ten Immortal cities, not twenty.

The youth continued, "Dayin is undergoing a crisis the likes of which have never been seen. Yin Shenhua can no longer control the Immortal cities of his empire. If you were to turn against Yin Shenhua, Immortal Emperor, you would easily acquire twenty Immortal cities without any effort whatsoever."

"What's Xiao Nanfeng trying to say?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi demanded.

"His Majesty believes that you deserve to own more Immortal cities, Immortal Emperor, and that you might do so without the risk of working for Yin Shenhua at all. A moment's carelessness might see you being pursued by the Imperial Court. The risk is far too large compared to the reward."

"Is Xiao Nanfeng threatening me?"

"No, Immortal Emperor. His Majesty states that, though Dayin might still exist, Yin Shenhua has already lost the loyalty of his people. Those who lay claim to his Immortal cities shall be able to keep them. Yin Shenhua's trying to compel you using those Immortal cities that should be yours to begin with. What a joke, he says," the youth reported.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi's face was ice-cold.

"Immortal Emperor, I have relayed His Majesty's words. I shall not trouble you any further. Farewell." The youth left the palace unhurriedly.

Within the hall, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and his officials were silent.

Under his agreement with Dayin, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi would be able to gain ten Immortal cities from Dayin just by sending a few of its Golden Immortals out. Everyone had been satisfied with the agreement—until the youth presented Xiao Nanfeng's remarks.

"Xiao Nanfeng's envoy is no mere youth."

"Indeed. Despite being a mortal, he doesn't quail in front of us even as he presents an unpopular opinion."

"That said, doesn't it seem that Yin Shenhua promised us far too little for our efforts? He wants the Immortal Emperor himself to make a move—and only for ten Immortal cities, at that!"

The officials murmured among themselves.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi was perceiving his agreement with Yin Shenhua in an entirely different light as well. He wasn't prepared to take on the Imperial Court at the moment; profit was naturally what mattered most.

"If the Golden Immortals of Dayin and the eighteen Martial Aspects all perished in battle—wouldn't it be better for us to make our move then?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi wondered out loud.

"Using Yin Shenhua to erode the reserves of the Imperial Court is a wise decision, Your Majesty!" an official exclaimed.

"A wise decision," the other officials echoed.