Chapter 655: The Yuqing Hierarch's Scheme

Atop Chiyang Peak, Han Bingdie gave Xiao Nanfeng an apologetic smile. "Don't mind him, Nanfeng. That's how Yu'er's father has always been."

"I would hardly criticize Mountain Lord Xia, Senior. I acted rashly," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"We've already explained the situation to you yesterday. Now that you've defeated the twelve prospective suitors, we'll have to see to them as well so that none can criticize the Yuqing holy land for not treating its guests with appropriate respect. You haven't spoken to Yu'er in quite a while, have you? Why don't you chat a bit for now?" Han Bingdie suggested.

"Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Nanfeng said gratefully.

"Thank you, Mother," Yu'er replied in excitement.

"Xia Lan, accompany them."

"Understood!" Xia Lan replied.

Han Bingdie was intentionally leaving Xia Lan here as a third wheel.

The moment the three women left, Yu'er leapt toward Xiao Nanfeng. Xia Lan glanced toward them and coughed. "Ahem!"

Yu'er glared at him. "Brother, you can leave now."

Xia Lan scowled. Was his sister going to ignore him now that she had found a lover?

"Madam Han wanted me to accompany you," Xia Lan replied, glancing warily at Xiao Nanfeng.

"Why don't you accompany Zhao Yuanjiao?" Yu'er asked. "It's his first time here at Chiyang Peak. You can show him around."

Xia Lan: ...

"It's alright," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Isn't it fine for Senior Brother Xia Lan to accompany us? Let's find somewhere for us to talk."

Han Bingdie had helped him greatly this time around, and she had specifically designated Xia Lan to watch them. He could hardly just shrug him off.

"How bothersome Brother is," Yu'er groused.

Xia Lan: ...

Ignoring Xia Lan's reaction, Yu'er hurriedly grabbed Xiao Nanfeng's hand and led him away. "Come on. Let's go have a look at my place. I tend to my very own garden in the yard."

"Alright," Xiao Nanfeng said, nodding. He turned to Zhao Yuanjiao. "Shall we head there together, Senior Brother?"

"Very well!" Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.

The party of four walked toward a garden in the back of the hall.

The garden was indeed beautiful. Xiao Nanfeng discovered that some parts of the garden were precisely like that in his manor. He couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth. Yu'er had to have deliberately recreated those parts of his garden out of loneliness.

The four cultivators sat down in a pavilion.

"Nanfeng, how have you been all these years? You're strong enough to take down even a Golden Immortal now!" Yu'er exclaimed.

"These past few years..." Xiao Nanfeng described what he had done since he had last seen Yu'er.

Xia Lan watched on with rapt attention, but the more he heard, the more astonished he became. Xiao Nanfeng had to be bragging. What kind of cultivator could accomplish such feats?

"It was that dangerous? I should have stuck with you all along!" Yu'er fumed.

What Xia Lan got out of Xiao Nanfeng's story was honor and glory heaped with a healthy dose of exaggeration, whereas Yu'er focused more on the dangers that Xiao Nanfeng had had to overcome.

"It's alright. I had to make a name for myself in order to ask for your hand in marriage," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.

"There's no need to take such risks," Yu'er replied worriedly.

"I'm afraid there is," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"No, there isn't! Ignore my father. He's stubborn and pig-headed. If he forces me to entertain these suitors again, I'm going to flee from home!" Yu'er said resolutely.

"I doubt you can make it out," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. "Senior told me Mountain Lord Xia keeps you under particularly heavy guard, and doesn't even want you to leave the holy land."

"That's fine! Third Brother will help me," Yu'er replied confidently, glancing at Xia Lan.

"I wouldn't!" Xia Lan exclaimed.

His father had forced him to serve as a guard just because he had spoken up on her behalf. If he were to help her elope, his father would surely break his legs!

"Third Brother, you're my favorite. Won't you even do me this small favor?" Yu'er pleaded pitifully.

Xia Lan narrowed his eyes. "This is no small favor."

"If you don't help me, I'll tell Eldest Brother and Second Brother that you've been bullying me!" Yu'er exclaimed.

Xia Lan stiffened. Yu'er was beloved by her siblings. If his other two brothers were to think that he was bullying her, he'd surely suffer!

"Alright, Yu'er, don't make things difficult for your brother." Xiao Nanfeng laughed.

"As you say." Yu'er smiled at Xiao Nanfeng. "Now that you're here, it's hardly as if I'd need to run off, anyway."

"Don't worry. I'll try to convince Mountain Lord Xia," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Yu'er frowned in frustration. "You won't be able to convince my father. He's far more stubborn than you think. All he cares about is the Yuqing holy land and its future prosperity. He's even willing to use me to that end!"

The three males present fell silent. None of them dared to criticize Xia Xingchen in the heart of his power, after all.

In a dim hall within the Yuqing holy land, a black figure sat cross-legged in meditation within the shadows, as though cultivating some technique or another. Beside him was Xia Xingchen, who had just arrived.

"Hierarch, you must have seen the fighting that took place at the foot of Chiyang Peak. Although Xiao Nanfeng's only a mid-stage True Immortal cultivator, he's already able to take down a Golden Immortal, an impressive feat. What's more, the empire of Dazheng that he founded now controls forty Immortal Cities, and he was even responsible for destroying a divine empire! I believe he's a respectable option for an alliance with the Yuqing holy land. Furthermore, we helped out the Taiqing Immortal Sect two centuries ago, and this alliance will serve to cement relationships between our two forces," Xia Xingchen argued.

No one would have expected Xia Xingchen, seemingly staunchly against Xiao Nanfeng, to now argue in his favor in front of the hierarch of the holy land.

In the darkness, the Yuqing hierarch pondered this suggestion. "Xingchen, do you remember why we chose to rescue the Taiqing Immortal Sect?"

Xia Xingchen smiled wryly. "I was fond of Han Bingdie of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, and decided to render my assistance despite the objections of the other Mountain Lords."

The Yuqing hierarch shook his head. "If that were the case, you would have gone alone. Why would I have accompanied you?"

Xia Xingchen thought about this question for a moment. "For the Taiqing Yin Body?"

"Indeed. Not everyone can cultivate the Taiqing red moon; the 48,000 scrolls of scripture of the Taiqing Immortal Sect serves as its foundation. Only the highest echelons of the sect were aware of these details. We would protect what remained of their disciples as long as they were willing to hand over that technique. We did it out of profit, not magnanimity," the Yuqing hierarch emphasized.

"Understood!" Xia Xingchen replied, nodding.

"And have you forgotten why we wanted that particular cultivation technique?"

Xia Xingchen frowned. "I wouldn't, Master. We did so in hopes of figuring out how to access the purple moon illusory realm."

"Indeed. The Taiqing red moon allows easy access into the red moon illusory realm, a realm carved out by the Taiqing Grandmaster of yore. The Yuqing Grandmaster was no weaker a cultivator from the same period; he too created his own realm, the purple moon illusory realm. Even so, after all these years of tumult, no one from the Yuqing holy land has managed to open it anew. Do you know why?"

Xia Xingchen was silent.

"The purple moon illusory realm seems to have been sealed by some strange power. Despite the fact that cultivators like me have managed to invoke our own purple moons, we haven't been able to bypass this seal and enter the realm. Over the years, all our efforts have been to no avail."

"I understand," Xia Xingchen said.

"And as for why your daughter, Xia Yu'er, was elevated to the position of Yuqing holy maiden, you know that as well. Even as a mortal, she showed signs of unusual talent, especially after she became a disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. The first time she returned, I noticed unusual sparkles by her mindscape, as if she possessed the mystical third eye—despite having no knowledge of the Yuqing Yin Body at that point! It was then that I recognized that she might be the opportunity we have long sought, initiated proceedings to appoint her a holy maiden, and taught her the Yuqing Yin Body. You've seen the results for yourself. Her progress has been remarkable. She's already able to invoke her purple moon—the rate at which she cultivates this technique is unmatched in the holy land."

"If she's that important, Hierarch, why force her into a marriage so early?" Xia Xingchen refused to give in just yet.

"Do you blame Green Lotus for spreading news that she was to be appointed a holy maiden? Don't blame him. I had him tell the Southeastern Aquatic Palace."

"What?!" Xia Xingchen exclaimed.

"Have you forgotten what lies beneath the Southeastern Aquatic Palace?" the Yuqing hierarch asked.

"Was this all a ploy to let Yu'er gain access to that and break the seal leading into the purple moon illusory realm?"

"Indeed. If Yu'er receives the aid of that which is controlled by the Southeastern Aquatic Palace, she may be able to break that seal and usher in a new era of prosperity for us all. Therein lies the key to the advancement of the Yuqing holy land."

"That—" Xia Xingchen was taken aback.

"As for Xiao Nanfeng, he's irrelevant. It's true he can bring the Yuqing holy land some resources, but they're hardly comparable to our grandmaster's inheritance. I ask that you act for the good of the holy land," the Yuqing hierarch said.

Xia Xingchen frowned. In the end, he sighed. "I understand, Hierarch."

"Very good." The Yuqing hierarch nodded.

"That said, there are four lords of the Southeastern Aquatic Palace, and the fourth lord clearly is an inferior match to my daughter. Even if the two of them are to be married, will she have access to that which lies beneath the palace?" Xia Xingchen continued.

It was the Yuqing hierarch's turn to pause. "You are correct. Unless the premier lord of the palace marries Yu'er himself, it won't do. I shall arrange for these matters."

"I understand. Thank you, Hierarch," Xia Xingchen replied.

At the very least, it seemed as though Yu'er wouldn't have to marry Long Si for the time being.

"Go on. Send Xiao Nanfeng away lest something untoward occurs. The revival of the Yuqing holy land is paramount."

"I understand," Xia Xingchen replied, sighing again in his mind.