Chapter 647: Traitor in the South

Within the violet drill grounds, Ye Dafu and his group of golden cultivators were crying out loud.

"Stop hitting us! We're going to die!"

"It hurts! Help!"

"I can't take it anymore!"

The Demon Child struck them with his demon-subduing golden hoop time and again, finally able to vent his emotions on Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates.

"Holy Child, something's wrong with these guys' techniques. We can't even seem to cut their skin!" one of his subordinates shouted.

"Then you must not be using enough strength. Keep beating them! Focus on their faces!" the Demon Child shouted.

The cultivators pummeled Ye Dafu and the others until their faces were all bruised and swollen. They gradually stopped shouting.

"Holy Child, they're not making any noise! Could they be dead?"

"Alright, stop!" the Demon Child shouted.

The cultivators halted immediately. The Demon Child stepped forward and inspected them. "They're still alive, if barely. This is good enough. I promised Black Dog not to kill them, so I have to keep my word."

"We're really stopping here?" someone asked.

"Didn't you hear me?" The Demon Child glared at that cultivator.

"As you say, Holy Child!" the cultivator immediately replied.

The Demon Child turned to his surroundings.

The fighting all around had largely ended. None of the other Cardinal Aspects had meddled with the selection for the new Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant, and all five banners had been claimed by Ao Canghai's subordinates. They glanced at the Demon Child curiously, not having figured out why he was beating up Ye Dafu and his group.

"Are Ye Dafu and the others dead?"

"Something's wrong. Why's the Demon Child staring at us?"

"It must be a coincidence."

"No, look! He's coming our way!"

The cultivators were all astounded.

"Beat them up! Beat them to death!" the Demon Child roared.

The cultivators stilled. Their leader shouted, "Demon Child, could you be mistaken? We don't have any association with you at all!"

"You're all my targets! How dare you use me? You're all dead!" the Demon Child roared, striking at them with his demon-subduing golden hoop.

"They're really going to attack us. Watch out!" the cultivators cried out.

Some were struck by the demon-subduing golden hoop and instantly sent flying.

The cultivators of both parties began tearing into each other, causing a huge explosion.

The sudden outbreak of combat caught the cultivators off guard.

Meanwhile, Ye Dafu and the others, who had dragged themselves up from the ground, had secretly made their way to the depths of a nearby forest to watch the fighting unfold from afar. They were perfectly hale and hearty, as if they hadn't just endured a heavy beating.

"Just like His Majesty predicted, they're turning on each other now," one golden cultivator said.

"Good! Let them attack each other. We'll jump in at the end," Ye Dafu said.

The other golden cultivators nodded as they hid.

Outside the barrier, Ao Canghai suddenly frowned. "Why's the Demon Child attacking us?"

"I don't know. It's strange, isn't it?" a Martial Aspect beside him remarked.

Ao Canghai's frown deepened. "Something's wrong. What if beating up Ye Dafu and the others was just a ploy? Do the Demon Child and his subordinates intend to claim the five openings for Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant?"

"Could Yang Chuan be trying to interfere with business in our quadrant?" The Martial Aspect frowned as well.

Ao Canghai's face was dour. "We four quadrants have never meddled in each other's affairs. Something may be wrong. Investigate the situation immediately.

"Understood!"

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng laughed. "To think there would be two Golden Immortals helping out the Demon Child—they've really hoodwinked him."

"Aren't those two Golden Immortals the Demon Child's subordinates?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"Of course not. Otherwise, they would never have watched me beat him up. The Demon Child's being manipulated again."

"You mean Ao Canghai's subordinates weren't the ones causing trouble for you?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Ao Canghai's a wily old fox. He wouldn't make such an obvious provocation. Black Dog was foolish enough to be tricked by the other Martial Aspects in the Southern Quadrant."

"You mean there are Martial Aspects in the Southern Quadrant taking advantage of Yang Chuan's absence to scheme against Ao Canghai by manipulating the Demon Child?"

"That's right."

"But why?" Zhang Lingjun seemed confused.

"For these five Martial Aspect nominations."

Zhang Lingjun considered Xiao Nanfeng's words for a moment. "That does make sense. Martial Aspect missions are particularly rewarding, and if something goes wrong, the Imperial Court will back them up. There are countless cultivators who would salivate over a single Martial Aspect's position, let alone five of them."

"I wonder who the mastermind is. They intend to take on Ao Canghai, it seems," Xiao Nanfeng said, laughing.

"But why would the mastermind incite the Demon Child to cause you trouble?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"Because, without Yang Chuan's permission, the Martial Aspects of the Southern Quadrant wouldn't have been allowed to nominate Golden Immortals for the selection. The mastermind took advantage of the Demon Child's unruly behavior to subvert this rule and arrange for two Golden Immortals to join him. In name, they're to help the Demon Child take revenge; in truth, they're both angling for positions as Martial Aspects."

"Did you predict this from the start?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed.

"More or less. It's a good thing for us, after all. With someone to draw all the attention, Ye Dafu and the others won't need to work so hard." Xiao Nanfeng smiled again.

"Did you make arrangements with Ye Dafu and the others, too?"

"Indeed. With the situation as is, Ye Dafu and the others stand a very good chance of victory."

Zhang Lingjun glanced at him admiringly. "You really are talented."

Xiao Nanfeng smiled and was about to reply when an official from the Imperial Court suddenly flew close to them. He bowed and said, "Princess Lingjun, Martial Aspect Xiao, the Heavenly Emperor requests a meeting with you."

"Oh?"

The two cultivators eyed each other. Xiao Nanfeng commanded, "Lead the way."

"Understood!"

Xiao Nanfeng gave Ao Zhou and the others some orders before departing with the official.

The two cultivators quickly arrived at Yu Fuli's study.

"We greet Your Majesty!" They bowed.

Yu Fuli considered Zhang Lingjun. "Are you a Golden Immortal now?"

The two cultivators shot each other a glance again before Zhang Lingjun nodded. "A few days ago, Your Majesty."

Yu Fuli sighed. "I thought it would take you quite some time, not anticipating the timeline to have shortened by this extent. Very well. So be it, then."

Xiao Nanfeng asked, "Isn't it a good thing that the princess has reached the Golden Immortal realm?"

Yu Fuli shot Xiao Nanfeng a glance. "It is, but it means she'll have to depart for some time."

"Depart? Where to?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

Zhang Lingjun held on tightly to Xiao Nanfeng's hand, clearly unwilling to leave him behind.

"The Taiqing Grandmaster negotiated with me to have Lingjun take over the red moon illusory realm when she becomes a Golden Immortal."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"I thought that there would be plenty of time remaining before that happened, but the Taiqing Grandmaster sent me a mental transmission stating that the time had come. I didn't expect that that would be truly the case," Yu Fuli continued.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He said immediately, "Princess Lingjun recently broke through to the peak of the True Immortal realm. Although she was just a step away from the Gold Immortal realm, that step would have had to bridge an immense chasm. The only reason she had managed it so quickly was because of the Taiqing red sash we recently acquired."

Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened.

Yu Fuli frowned. "In that case, the Taiqing Grandmaster interfered?"

The two cultivators nodded immediately.

The praying mat suddenly flew out and hovered in the air, as though eyeing Yu Fuli.

"Taiqing, how could you have distilled all the essence in that red sash and infused it into Lingjun's body? All that in order to help her break through? You're far too impatient," Yu Fuli criticized.

The praying mat glowed with red light, as though the Taiqing Grandmaster sat atop it and was currently conversing with Yu Fuli. Yu Fuli glowed with white light. The two colors of light intermingled, as though participating in a heated discussion.

After some time, Yu Fuli sighed. He turned toward Zhang Lingjun. "Lingjun, the Taiqing Grandmaster intends for you to master the red moon illusory realm. Are you willing to do so?"

"Your Majesty, I don't understand what that implies," Zhang Lingjun said.

"I'm aware of the Taiqing Grandmaster's plan, but I can't reveal any details. If you're willing, you'll have to enter the red moon illusory realm for some time. During this period of time, he'll help you attune to the red moon illusory realm and claim it for yourself. At that point, all the red-furred lifeforms within will listen to your orders and serve as your subordinates."

"All of them? Will I be able to find my parents, then?!" Zhang Lingjun's eyes lit up.

"That should be possible," Yu Fuli said. He too wanted to see his daughter again.

"I'm willing!" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed immediately.

"Hold it!" Xiao Nanfeng suddenly jumped in.

Zhang Lingjun turned to Xiao Nanfeng. She knew that he was worried for her, but she really did want to find her parents as quickly as possible.

"Your Majesty, the Taiqing Grandmaster refuses to speak with me, so I can only turn to you. What price must the princess pay for claiming the red moon illusory realm? What dangers will there be?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"The reason the Taiqing Grandmaster picked Lingjun was in order to fortify her to resist the heavens in the near future. The price she has to pay is to give her all to do so when the time comes. If we overcome the heavens, she will live; otherwise, she dies. As for the danger, the Taiqing Grandmaster is invested in helping Zhang Lingjun resist the heavens. He would never let her be in danger."

Xiao Nanfeng still seemed worried. "How is the Taiqing Grandmaster's personality?"

Yu Fuli seemed to be taken aback. He smiled. "He likes to keep his cards close to his chest."

Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"However, Lingjun still has the violet granule I gave her. If the Taiqing Grandmaster means her ill, I'll know immediately. You don't have to be worried about her safety," Yu Fuli continued.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Please take care of her," Xiao Nanfeng said, relaxing.

Yu Fuli smiled and murmured, "The Taiqing Grandmaster's looking at you in an unkindly fashion for doubting his integrity."

Zhang Lingjun immediately bowed down to the seemingly empty praying mat. "Please calm down, Grandmaster. Nanfeng spoke carelessly."

Xiao Nanfeng: ...