Chapter 703: Two Empires' Ties

The palatial valley of the capital of Shenfeng was shrouded by a formation. In a hall within the valley, Xiao Nanfeng inspected a visualization of the entire kingdom before him thoughtfully.

Beside him, the Divine Emperor reached out for Xiao Nanfeng's arm. "The Shenfeng Empire belongs to us both, too. Should we unify it with the Dazheng Empire?"

"There's no need. Dazheng is in the east, and Shenfeng in the south. They're too far away for the unification to have much meaning at the moment. It's more efficient if we each expand rapidly first," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"I agree. Even so, the Shenfeng Empire belongs to both me and you. Would you like to have a look at my officials?"

"No, it's alright. As long as your core shadow cursed effigies know of my existence, that's enough. We should try to hide our relationship from others. Once our identities are exposed, the two empires won't be able to function independently any longer."

Of course, he was only hiding the relationship from outsiders. He would tell his core subordinates—Ye Dafu, the Demon Child—and naturally explain the situation to Yu'er as well.

He simply didn't want to publicize the relationship just yet in case anything were to happen.

"Your shadow cursed effigies are indeed skilled at administration, but I believe that there's a fundamental flaw in the empire's public policy."

"Oh?" the Divine Emperor said.

"Perhaps it's simply the difference between the Dazheng Empire and other empires. The Dazheng Empire fully prioritizes its citizens so as to derive the greatest quantity of fortune. The officials of the Shenfeng Empire ultimately still behave as if they're lording over their citizens. You won't get enough fortune this way."

"What then? Shall I gather my administrative officials and have you instruct them?" the Divine Emperor asked.

"I wouldn't be enough. How about this? I'll send over a group of officials from Dazheng, and I'll make a few modifications to Shenfeng's public policy with your supervision. How about a thousand to start off with?"

"That many? What if people notice something amiss?" the Divine Emperor asked.

"That's alright. We can make it look like the two empires are forging a relationship with each other. Conveniently, Xia Hong's in the empire at the moment. Have him contact me, and I'll be able to send a thousand officials over as a delegation."

"But wouldn't that expose our relationship?" the Divine Emperor asked.

"We'll be taking on the divine empire of Hongyue together, so everyone will know that there's a relationship between us regardless—just not the specifics of it. Few will think too deeply about an alliance between two empires, especially ones on different quadrants of the continent. After all, allying with empires from afar and attacking ones nearby is a standard policy, and plenty of empires do the same.

"Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.

"As for the news of Li Qianjun slaughtering his citizens to forge a treasure, we can't allow that to slowly die out. We'll have to find specialized people to spread that news throughout all the Immortal cities to ensure that it remains a topic of discussion whose influence will spread."

The Divine Emperor nodded. "One of my officials says the same."

"Have your subordinates hand me a report collating the relevant information on the empires around you. I'll have to study them."

"I've arranged for it already," the Divine Emperor said, smiling. "I knew you'd want to do something like this."

A day later, in a hall of the Shenfeng Empire, Xia Lan frowned at Xia Hong. "Second Brother, why would the Divine Emperor give us such a task?"

Xia Hong looked at the edict as he frowned. "The Divine Emperor must be aware of our relationship with Nanfeng. That's why we were entrusted with such an important task."

"An alliance between two empires so distant from each other? What's the point of an alliance? Would Xiao Nanfeng even agree? She even wants him to send a few officials to Shenfeng in an exchange to offer guidance! This is impossible. The two of us could never arrange all this."

"Who knows? Nanfeng would likely entertain the request, at least," Xia Hong replied.

"I don't think it's possible. Perhaps if it's a private exchange, but one involving two empires? Doesn't that need a mutual understanding of each other and delegations of envoys? Would we really be able to succeed? Xiao Nanfeng's not a fool. No matter how closely he's tied to our family, he would never agree." Xia Lan shook his head.

"Her Majesty instructed us to do this herself. We have to give it our best effort, at least. Come with me when we discuss this with Nanfeng," Xia Hong said.

"I won't! You want me to grovel and beg Xiao Nanfeng? Dream on!" Xia Lan refused abruptly.

"We're going to be a family. What do you mean, grovel and beg? Don't make up nonsense."

"At any rate, this is impossible. Considering how petty Xiao Nanfeng is, he would never agree to such a thing." Xia Lan shook his head.

Just as the two brothers were speaking, one of Xia Hong's subordinates walked into the hall. "General, a cultivator outside the residence claims to be one of Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates and requests an audience with you. He provided this."

Xia Hong took the token and recognized it as something he had given Xiao Nanfeng to facilitate communication.

"Send him in immediately," Xia Hong instructed.

"Understood!"

A man was quickly invited inside.

"I am a spectral guard of Dazheng and have been tasked with contacting General Xia Hong. His Majesty had us scatter across the world, and I was responsible for keeping an eye on the Shenfeng Empire. I can communicate any information directly to His Majesty. General Xia Hong, if you ever wish to contact him, please find me at any time." The man bowed, then provided him with his contact information within the Shenfeng Empire.

Xia Hong gave him an odd look. A spy in Shenfeng who had directly professed his identity—what a strange thing indeed. If he were from any other empire, Xia Hong would have arrested him immediately, but this spy was stationed here by Xiao Nanfeng. He didn't know quite what to do.

In the end, he quashed his desire to arrest the man before him and asked, "Can you contact Xiao Nanfeng immediately?"

"Of course, General. My avatar is in Yongding, and I can help you contact His Majesty at any time. Would you like to request an audience now?"

"Do so."

"Very well. Please wait a little, General."

Xia Lan and Xia Hong waited patiently until the spectral guard turned toward them again. "My avatar is with His Majesty. I will be responsible for conveying your words to each other."

"Very well!" Xia Hong nodded.

The spectral guard relayed Xiao Nanfeng's words first. "Haha, Senior Brother, what's going on? Is something the matter?"

Xia Hong grimaced before chuckling wryly. "I do have something to trouble you with."

"We're family, aren't we? It's hardly troublesome. What do you need?" The spectral guard even mimicked Xiao Nanfeng's casual tone.

"Shenfeng would like to forge an alliance with Dazheng. Would you be interested?" Xia Hong probed.

"With any other empire, I'd have to think far more about it. Considering it's the empire you're in, Senior Brother, there's no problem at all. Allying with empires afar is a good idea. I'll send a delegation of envoys to Shenfeng immediately. You'll help me protect them, won't you, Senior Brother?"

Xia Hong sighed in relief. He couldn't help but feel immense gratitude toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure that they're well taken care of. Here's the situation: remember when you told me about Dazheng's policy of governance? The Divine Emperor asked me regarding such matters, and I presented the Dazheng Empire as an example. She thinks very highly of your policies, and would like to adopt them in Shenfeng as well. She'd like to request some officials from Dazheng to assist with the process," Xia Hong explained, with some embarrassment.

"Anything to help you, Senior Brother. I'll send a thousand administrative officials to assist with the process. Have Shenfeng send a group of envoys and administrative officials to Dazheng to learn about what we do as well. Since the two empires are inclined to forge an alliance, it's only natural that we would have such exchanges."

Xia Hong gaped, not expecting things to have progressed so smoothly. "I really have to thank you for this."

"Senior Brother, there's hardly any need for all this politeness! If you keep doing so, you'll make me feel like a stranger." Xiao Nanfeng laughed out loud.

"Even so! I'll report to the Divine Emperor immediately and have envoys and officials dispatched as quickly as possible," Xia Hong said.

"Very well. I'll do the same myself. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you can report back."

"Very well!" Xia Hong nodded.

The conversation ended, and the spectral guard made his leave.

After the spectral guard left, Xia Hong sighed. "Yu'er really made the right choice in marrying Nanfeng. We're blessed to have such a brother-in-law."

"Second Brother, none of this seems real. He's not trying to trick us, is he?" Xia Lan frowned.

Xia Hong glared at his brother. "Third Brother, don't you think that's enough? You keep maligning Nanfeng whenever he's brought up. How could you have become so petty?"

"I didn't! I just feel as if everything's progressing far too smoothly. Considering how petty Xiao Nanfeng is, there's no way he would be so amenable to the idea."

"It looks like you need more training. Head to the drill grounds immediately and join the soldiers in their routine," Xia Hong ordered.

"Second Brother, surely not! I'm an Immortal. You want me to train with those ordinary cultivators? What about my reputation?!" Xia Lan exclaimed.

"Go, or I'll beat you up. Whoever drops to the ground first will have to obey the other. How about that?" Xia Hong chided.

Xia Lan stiffened. Xia Hong was a peak True Immortal, and Xia Lan's cultivation was far worse. The outcome of the fight would be obvious.

Slightly more than ten days later, Dazheng's delegation arrived at the capital of Shenfeng. The Divine Emperor herself welcomed them and formally established relations between the two empires.

The Divine Emperor treated the Dazheng officials with extreme generosity, instating them as officials in major cities all across the empire and causing no small commotion.

Meanwhile, Xia Lan continued to train alongside a group of cultivators. He was shocked to receive the news.

"Did Xiao Nanfeng really send a delegation over? How could it be? Could I really have misjudged him before?" Xia Lan wondered, frowning.