Chapter 702: Beat Them Up

Days later, Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Child stepped out of the Yuqing holy land together.

Xia Xingchen was in secluded cultivation, and Xia Hong and Xia Lan had left with the Yuqing disciples they had recruited a few days ago. If not for the fact that the paperwork and administration for becoming a Mountain Lord of the Yuqing holy land was so complicated, Xiao Nanfeng and the Demon Child wouldn't have needed to wait these last few days.

"Xiao Nanfeng, are we leaving just like that? We're not bringing anything with us?" the Demon Child asked, frowning.

"Your reputation in Taiyi Peak isn't particularly stellar. Aren't you happy enough to become the Mountain Lord? What do you expect to bring with you?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.

"I feel like I didn't gain anything by doing this. What's the point of all this work?" the Demon Child complained.

"Status is everything. You might not understand it right now, but you will as you grow older. Your status as Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak is more important than any physical reward you could have gained. No one in the Yuqing holy land will dare cause you trouble, and you'll be able to claim more benefits from the Yuqing holy land itself."

The Demon Child nodded uncertainly, then asked, "Where are we headed next?"

"To fight."

"To fight where?" The Demon Child suddenly perked up.

"Let's go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.

The two cultivators zoomed away, moving so rapidly that they reached an island far across the sea in just a day.

There, Ao Zhou and the twelve golden cultivators were waiting for them alongside a large group of chefs and puppeteers.

"Your Majesty!" The twelve golden cultivators rushed over.

"What's the matter with you? Why are all of you in such bad shape?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, alarmed.

Their clothes had been worn down to nothing but rags, as if they had just had a big fight.

"Of course they're in bad shape! I was the one who attacked them. Mere survival was all they could hope for," Ao Zhou said arrogantly.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Ao Zhou with a raised eyebrow. "You're a Golden Immortal now?"

"Of course! I'm a cultivation genius. It's only natural that I would have become a Golden Immortal so quickly," Ao Zhou replied, preening.

Beside him, Ye Dafu said, "Ao Zhou was a Golden Immortal when he emerged from the Eye of the Sea. It's clear that he must have advanced by consuming the nascent soul in the Eye. He took advantage of you, Your Majesty!"

Ao Zhou stiffened and thundered, "Who took advantage of Xiao Nanfeng? We each claimed what we needed from the other!"

Xiao Nanfeng understood what had happened as well, but he didn't mind. It was a good thing for Ao Zhou to grow stronger. In the future, when he inveigled Ao Zhou into more fights, Ao Zhou would have a greater impact.

"Is Ao Zhou that strong as a Golden Immortal? Were you all beaten black and blue despite attacking him together?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"No, we were worried that his stamina would be limited, so we took turns fighting him. In the meantime, we also beat each other up. Not all the damage was inflicted by Ao Zhou," Ye Dafu reported.

"Ye Dafu, what do you mean, my stamina is limited? Weren't you screaming after I pummeled you? I'm not trying to target any of you, but all of you are trash compared to me!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

"Trash? Come on, you little loach. I'll take you on!" the Demon Child cried out.

Ao Zhou glanced at the Demon Child and froze. He still remembered the Demon Child's frightening strength. He probed, "Didn't your demonic corpse body end up being shattered? Have you reforged your body? If I'm not mistaken, the strength of your new body is related to the relic you used to reforge it. What sort of relic could you even possess? You're simply trying to fake it, aren't you?"

"Try me on, then!" the Demon Child called out.

"I bet it's only a Golden Immortal relic. You won't be able to best me like this. Very well!" Ao Zhou shouted, rushing straight toward the Demon Child.

The Demon Child waved a hand, causing a huge palm to descend from the heavens. The clouds in the sky burst apart as incredible force shot down toward Ao Zhou.

"No!" Ao Zhou cried out.

He was sent flying by a single blow. He smashed into the sea, causing a huge wave to form.

"A Boundless Immortal's strength? Demon Child, you tricked me!" Ao Zhou fumed.

"A Boundless Immortal?" The twelve golden cultivators' eyes lit up.

Before long, Ao Zhou returned with a swollen face. The Demon Child's technique had struck him there, leaving him looking much the worse for wear.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you reforged the Demon Child's body with a Boundless Immortal relic? You're wasting such treasure!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

"The Demon Child is a general of Dazheng. What treasure I use to reforge his physical body with is none of your business."

Ao Zhou grimaced. "Does the Dazheng Empire provide such impressive benefits? Why not count me in?"

He recalled how Croak and Warble had easily advanced in cultivation thanks to the benefits they obtained from being part of the Dazheng Empire, and they were now late-stage True Immortals. They had reached that level of cultivation readily, with hardly any effort—and he wanted that for himself too.

"Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng laughed disdainfully at Ao Zhou.

"You really are bothersome!" Ao Zhou fumed.

He was upset at not having obtained anything from Xiao Nanfeng for free.

"Xiao Nanfeng, who do you want me to beat up?" the Demon Child asked curiously.

"Them." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the twelve golden cultivators.

"Aren't they your subordinates? Why would I beat them up?"

"They're currently all late-stage True Immortals. Beat them up until they become Golden Immortals!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

"What?" The Demon Child was taken aback.

"For the next few days, all of you will live on this island. I've prepared the best chefs for you, who will make all sorts of delicacies you've never tried before. There'll be entertainment aplenty as well. You can have your fill of entertainment. All you need to do is cooperate with Ye Dafu and the others to help them advance their cultivation. Just beat them up like you always do," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"I don't understand..." The Demon Child was taken aback.

Ye Dafu shook his head. "Demon Child, I'll teach you what to do. Come on, why don't we start by eating our fill?"

The Demon Child nodded fervently, already starting to drool.

Xiao Nanfeng chatted with the gathered cultivators for some time before he left for the Shenfeng Empire.

He returned to the same valley as before, but alone this time. He was immediately surrounded by a group of shadow cursed effigies.

He had been hiding his appearance behind a cloud of white fog, but when he realized that his assailants were all shadow cursed effigies, he waved away the fog. "It's me."

The shadow cursed effigies immediately bowed and made way, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to pass toward the valley down below.

From the air, it was clear that the valley was located within a giant city.

There was a large tablet in the distance proclaiming the city to be the capital of the Shenfeng Empire.

The moment Xiao Nanfeng descended into the valley proper, a shadow cursed effigy floated up to him. It bowed respectfully. "Sir, the Divine Emperor is currently in a session of court."

"That's fine. Bring me to a vantage point from which I can see the whole city," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Understood!" the shadow cursed effigy replied.

It brought Xiao Nanfeng to the peak of a mountain from which the whole city was visible. The mountain was part of the palatial complex, and he could see a wide-open field at the front of the palace.

Countless Yuqing disciples had gathered there.

"General Xia Hong has recently recruited a large group of Yuqing disciples. The Divine Emperor is granting them titles and positions appropriate for their expertise," the shadow cursed effigy explained.

"I see." Xiao Nanfeng nodded and observed them, his hands behind his back.

In the plaza in the distance, the Yuqing disciples were all elated because of how highly the Shenfeng Empire seemed to value them. The Divine Emperor had even hosted a special session of court in order to grant them all positions within the empire—and they hadn't even stepped foot on the battlefield just yet! Would they be able to become officials without having done a thing?

They could tell that their positions would easily allow them to accumulate merit.

"The Divine Emperor really is wise—a monarch worthy of respect. No wonder the Shenfeng Empire has grown so strong in just a year."

"It's all thanks to Senior Brother Xia Hong. How else could we have obtained such coveted positions right away?"

"Or Senior Brother Xiao's strong recommendation, rather. We wouldn't have learned of such an opportunity otherwise."

"It really is thanks to Senior Brother Xiao!"

The Yuqing disciples chatted with each other in excitement.

Not far away, Xia Lan commented, "Second Brother, I didn't expect you the Shenfeng Empire to treat you like such an asset."

Xia Hong frowned. "I didn't expect this myself. There are plenty of martial generals in the Shenfeng Empire, and True Immortals from a variety of sects. I wouldn't have expected the emperor to have been so concerned with my recruits..."

"It must be because of your talent," Xia Lan said.

Xia Hong frowned. Something still seemed off. It felt as though, for some reason or another, the Divine Emperor had suddenly placed considerable trust in him.

Just then, the Divine Emperor slowly walked out of the palace.

"Continue appointing the new officials. I have something to attend to," the Divine Emperor said.

"We send off the Divine Emperor! Long live the Divine Emperor!" Countless officials and generals bowed as the Divine Emperor made her exit.

Upon seeing the Divine Emperor's appearance, Xia Lan was taken aback. "I can't believe how beautiful your monarch is. If only I could marry her—I'd give up a thousand years of my life!"

Xia Hong slapped Xia Lan on the head.

"What're you looking at? I'll dig out your eyes if you keep it up! Don't you dare sully her with your carnal desires.

"Second Brother, why are you beating me? Did I say anything wrong? She's so strong and beautiful—who wouldn't want to be with her? Haven't you had those thoughts, too?" Xia Lan clutched his head and scowled at his older brother.

Xia Hong naturally felt the same way inwardly, but he sighed. "No one in this world is a match for her."

"Ha!" Xia Lan said. "Just you watch me woo her!"

They watched the Divine Emperor fly high up a mountain, where a stately figure shrouded in fog appeared to be waiting for her.

When the Divine Emperor saw the figure, a smile bloomed across her face. She said something, then blushed. The figure in the fog reached out for her waist with an arm as they flew down the mountain together and vanished from sight.

Xia Hong: ...

Xia Lan: ...

The two brothers' dreams were shattered in an instant. The Divine Emperor already had a man! Why was this world so unfair?!

"That beast!" the two cultivators cursed.