Chapter 632: Yin Tianci's Death

Only after Xiao Nanfeng and the Martial Aspects had left did the skulking cultivators all around show themselves.

They too headed to the underground pit in search of treasure, but there was nothing to be found.

"There's nothing at all. Xiao Nanfeng must have taken everything. Something must have happened underground that we don't know anything about."

"To think even Yin Shenhua would perish at Xiao Nanfeng's hands... Xiao Nanfeng's far too vicious."

"Isn't it because he benefited from the Venerable Buddha's generosity?"

"That's already incredible enough. Didn't the Venerable Buddha fall, too?"

The cultivators sighed, but then they suddenly stopped short. They turned toward Dayin's capital.

By then, all the dust had settled, and Dayin's capital was revealed to one and all in full—what was left of it, at any rate. There was nothing remaining save a pile of ruins, not even the city walls.

"The divine empire of Dayin was among the largest in the world. Just a few months ago, it challenged the Imperial Court and its name echoed throughout the world. How could it have been defeated by an ordinary empire so utterly?" someone exclaimed.

Many cultivators were still in shock about what they had witnessed.

"Investigate," someone said. "Investigate how Xiao Nanfeng managed to destroy the divine empire of Dayin. I want to know everything he did in detail."

"Understood!"

Countless such orders were being passed down all over the world.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng's procession left Dayin's capital.

After ensuring that there was no longer anyone following them, Xiao Nanfeng immediately instructed one of his subordinates, "Use your avatar to tell Chang Bing to flee from the prisoner Yin Tianci immediately. Do not approach him. Stay far away until I get there."

"Understood!" the subordinate replied.

Not far away, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects glanced at him in confusion, but Xiao Nanfeng didn't explain himself. He commanded his other subordinates, "Return to Yongding immediately. There may well be a sneak attack."

"Understood!" Croak, Warble, Ye Dafu and the others replied, then left with their subordinates.

Xiao Nanfeng continued flying toward the Imperial Court with the other Martial Aspects. Along the way, some tried to ask him how he had defeated Yin Shenhua, but he refused to provide any details.

"Xiao Nanfeng, what manner of natural law did you invoke to break out of Yin Shenhua's captivity?" Ao Canghai asked.

"I don't know. The Venerable Buddha did it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Ao Canghai frowned. He sensed that Xiao Nanfeng wasn't telling the truth, but had no means of exposing him.

In the end, he chose not to continue with that line of questioning. The procession flew for two whole days before they arrived at the eastern gate to the Sieve of Heaven.

The Martial Aspects were welcomed by the guards as soon as they arrived.

"Congratulations on defeating the divine empire of Dayin," the guards chorused.

Ao Canghai nodded coolly.

The guards then ignored Ao Canghai and praised Xiao Nanfeng. "Martial Aspect Xiao, it's amazing that you were able to defeat Yin Shenhua like that!"

"Everyone played a role. I was simply lucky. How did you come to learn of what happened in Dayin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Several days ago, when the Martial Aspects attacked Dayin's capital, many cultivators in the Imperial Court who had avatars relayed what was happening in real time. The Martial Aspects first destroyed the three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin before taking on Yin Shenhua. The Sieve of Heaven has been in an uproar over the news. Everyone knows of you, Martial Aspect Xiao," the guard informed him.

"I see. Thank you," Xiao Nanfeng replied, nodding.

Beside him, Ao Canghai frowned. He hadn't managed a good showing for himself in terms of his behavior and his results. Who knew what criticism awaited him back in the Sieve of Heaven?

He hmphed as he stepped through the eastern gate, the other Martial Aspects trailing in behind him.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The moment they stepped through the gate, they found someone waiting for them there.

"Princess! Division Leader Xiao!" a white-robed woman called out, stepping forward.

"What are you doing here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.

Xiao Nanfeng recognized her. She was a Heaven disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, who was part of Zhang Feifan's faction.

"Word of your feats in Dayin's capital have spread throughout the Sieve of Heaven. When the division leader learned of the news, he was overjoyed. He guessed that you were about to return and has specially prepared a banquet for you. I was tasked to wait here and extend an invitation to you." The woman smiled.

Zhang Lingjun smiled, pleased. "Surely there's no need for all this ceremony?"

"I need to head back to my manor first. Tell Senior Uncle not to worry about the banquet for the moment—we do still have to report to the Heavenly Emperor first, after all. Why not schedule the banquet for once everything's settled?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

The woman in white smiled wryly. She relayed, "The division leader has already prepared the banquet in the Palace of the Moon. He intends to discuss matters between Division Leader Xiao and the princess there."

"Father!" Zhang Lingjun's face flushed red. She turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "I'll go talk to him for the time being. Forget the banquet for now. Once you're ready, let me know and we'll report to His Majesty together."

"Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded, then added, "Tell Senior Uncle that we'll have a gathering after that. We can discuss matters between us then."

Zhang Lingjun was taken aback for the moment. Her cheeks flushed again as she replied, "Very well. We'll be leaving first, then."

Zhang Lingjun and the white-robed woman flew off.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Ao Canghai. "Eastern Aspect, we'll have to write a report on what we've done to receive a summons from His Majesty. Would you do so? I have urgent business I must take care of in my manor. When His Majesty summons us, I'll be ready."

He didn't care how the report was written, given that news of the fight had spread throughout the Sieve of Heaven. No one would be able to wipe away the merit he had accumulated. The most urgent task at hand was to return to his manor and check on Yin Tianci.

Ao Canghai nodded and departed with the Martial Aspects in tow.

Xiao Nanfeng and Ao Zhou headed straight for his manor.

"Xiao Nanfeng, why are you in such a rush? Did something happen to your manor?" Ao Zhou asked, curious.

"Hopefully not yet. Let's hurry!" Xiao Nanfeng said.

Along the way, they met plenty of Immortals hoping to greet and catch a glimpse of the young hero of legend, but Xiao Nanfeng was in such a rush that he could only nod hastily as he made his way to his manor as quickly as he could.

There, he found Chang Bing and the others waiting for him outside.

"Division Leader, you're finally back!" Chang Bing exclaimed.

Upon seeing his expression, Xiao Nanfeng's heart thumped. He felt uneasy.

"What's the matter?"

"Yin Tianci's dead. We didn't dare do anything, so we were waiting for you to return."

"He's dead?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

He rushed into the manor.

Chang Bing and the others followed swiftly behind him. They quickly ended up in a huge hall, the center of which was a furnace. Beside the furnace was a rack on which Yin Tianci was bound, though he no longer drew breath.

"Yin Tianci's cultivation was completely sealed. His eyes have been shut and he hasn't been communicative over this period of time. When I received word from you, Division Leader, I rushed back to check on him and was preparing to evacuate everyone when I discovered that he was dead," Chang Bing reported.

Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to investigate Yin Tianci's body. Indeed, Yin Tianci was dead, but there were no visible wounds anywhere to be seen.

"We've checked his body, but can't determine his cause of death," Chang Bing said.

Xiao Nanfeng attempted to examine Yin Tianci's body several times with spiritual power, only to discover that it contained no cursed spiritual power at all. The golden lotus hood he had once seen on Yin Tianci's body had vanished as well.

Xiao Nanfeng blanched. "Is everyone responsible for guarding Yin Tianci present? Have them report to me."

Chang Bing nodded. Though he didn't understand what was going on, he rushed to get everyone.

"Junior Brother Qingmei is gone. Everyone else is accounted for," Chang Bing reported.

Xiao Nanfeng investigated the Earth disciples arrayed before him. There were no abnormalities.

"Where's Qingmei?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Qingmei rushed out of the manor just now. We don't know where he went," Chang Bing replied.

"Did you all hear about what happened in Dayin's capital?"

"We did. We were all outside listening to the news. A junior brother's avatar was present and told us what was going on.

"When Yin Shenhua perished, where was Qingmei?"

Chang Bing thought for a moment. "We were all outside, so he must have been the only one guarding Yin Tianci here."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"I remember that when we told Junior Brother Qingmei of the news, he was abnormally silent. He hung his head and left. Then, he went missing. Before long, you sent us a message telling us to avoid Yin Tianci, and that was when we found out that he had died."

"So that's what happened," Xiao Nanfeng said, lowering his head.

"Division Leader, could Qingmei have killed Yin Tianci?" Chang Bing asked.

"No. Rather, Qingmei's likely dead," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Indeed?"

"I suspect he's been possessed by a cursed effigy." Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He commanded Chang Bing, "Find out where Qingmei is. Hurry!"

He didn't explain that Yin Shenhua had ended up in Yin Tianci's body, given up on it, possessed Qingmei, and departed. He was worried that it would cause undue commotion.

The Earth disciples rushed off in search of Qingmei.

Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Ao Zhou, you boast the ancestral dragon's techniques, and have considerable strength. To prevent anything untoward from happening, I need you to guard my manor for the time being. I'm going to seek an audience with the Heavenly Emperor."

"Aren't you going to wait for Ao Canghai to finish his report first?" Ao Zhou asked.

"There's no time to waste. The Heavenly Emperor gave me permission to meet with him directly if there's any urgent business. This affair is too time-sensitive for me to go through the usual procedure. Guard this place for me," Xiao Nanfeng repeated, then rushed straight toward Mt. Kunlun.

Yin Shenhua had to be incredibly weak for the time being. If he were able to possess Qingmei, then he would surely have been able to possess other cultivators along the way as well. Only by doing so several times would he be able to shake off any pursuit. If he were to flee, he would pose incredible danger to the world. The best strategy for finding him had to be asking for Yu Fuli's help.