Chapter 743: Saint Chi Hai

The saint couldn't believe that Lou Yujing was willing to pay whatever he demanded.

He eyed Lou Yujing. "And if I want all of Hongyue's fortune?"

Everyone in the hall was taken aback. Wasn't the saint being far too greedy? All of Hongyue's fortune?

Lou Yujing smiled. "Saint, if I were to do so, my empire would fall to ruin instantly. Would you really ask that of me?"

"You were the one who offered," the saint replied.

"Under the premise that I can retain my power, surely?"

"You claimed what you did, and you refused what I asked for. Do you intend to go back on your word?" the saint demanded.

"How about this? If you want all of Hongyue's fortune, I can agree to that request, but in two batches. I'll give you half the fortune now and the same quantity of fortune next year. Will that suffice?"

The saint was taken aback. Indeed, a year's delay was all but irrelevant to him. He hadn't expected that Lou Yujing really would accede to the request.

"You value Xiao Nanfeng over your entire sea of fortune?"

"Regardless of how others feel about the deal, I think it's worth it," Lou Yujing answered in the affirmative.

The saint cocked his head thoughtfully. He believed Lou Yujing's assertion that Xiao Nanfeng was a skilled cultivator, but wouldn't have taken him so seriously if not for the sea of fortune that Lou Yujing had pledged.

"The fortune in two batches will suffice. Where are the zombies from the black coffin hidden realm?"

Lou Yujing handed a jade bottle to the saint. "They're all in here, Saint. It cost me four Boundless Immortal treasures to safeguard the zombies. I would be happy to hand you the zombies, but ask that you reimburse me for the expenses I incurred."

"Four Boundless Immortal relics? And why have I not been informed of this?"

"Three relics are ones that you promised me. Among them, the ancestral fire dragon's pearl was lost by the ancestral zombie, and I used the remaining two, along with a third I supplemented myself, to exchange for the Rainbow Soul-Suppression Jade via the altar. It was only then that I was able to take down the ancestral zombie. My expenses were four Boundless Immortal treasures in all."

The saint eyed him coldly. "How much more thick-skinned can you get? Three of those relics were originally mine."

"You granted them to me, Saint. I'm sure you won't renege on your word."

The saint snorted and ignored him.

He uncorked the jade bottle and poured out five zombies from within: Lou Yujing's ancestral zombie body, and four zombie king subordinates.

He eyed the five zombies, then at Lou Yujing, who was waiting for his four Boundless Immortal treasures.

"I won't hand you four Boundless Immortal treasures for these zombies, but I'll need to borrow these four zombie kings to take down Xiao Nanfeng." The saint pointed at the ordinary zombie kings.

"Very well, Saint. However, these zombies are continuously dissipating energy. Is there a solution to this problem?" Lou Yujing asked.

"Resolve it yourself."

Perhaps the saint did have a solution in mind, but not one he was willing to reveal.

Lou Yujing nodded. "Then I'll have to try and seize Xiao Nanfeng's black coffin from him."

The saint arched an eyebrow. "That coffin belongs to me, not you."

"I understand." Lou Yujing smiled.

The saint absorbed the four zombie kings' bodies into his sleeves as Lou Yujing reclaimed the jade bottle and the ancestral zombie within.

He wrote an imperial edict with a brush, then stamped it with his imperial seal.

"Half of Hongyue's fortune is to be ceded to Saint Chi Hai," Lou Yujing declared.

The sea of fortune above Hongyue's capital roiled as half its mass vanished and was sucked into the saint's body.

The cultivators in Hongyue's capital were astonished by what they had just witnessed.

"What did the Immortal Emperor do with all that fortune?"

"Half of Hongyue's fortune—just what could have been so costly?"

"Something big must have happened. Is he preparing for war?"

Countless shouts could be heard from all over.

The saint was satisfied with the fortune he had received.

This was sufficient payment to request a favor from even him.

"Tell me about Xiao Nanfeng's circumstances," the saint said.

Lou Yujing nodded and passed him a stack of documents that his subordinates had compiled. The documents carefully described Xiao Nanfeng's growth—as far as they knew, at any rate. Xiao Nanfeng's secrets were safe for the moment.

The saint scanned through the documents quickly.

When he finished, he frowned. "You're right to think that Xiao Nanfeng is similar to Yu Fuli. He may well be a threat to the heavens."

"He's only a True Immortal at the moment. If he's allowed to develop any further, he's only going to become more of a threat. I hope that my request will also serve to help you deal with a latent future threat, Saint."

Saint Chi Hai raised an eyebrow. "How do you think Xiao Nanfeng should be handled?"

"As you will, Saint."

"And if I insist on your opinion?"

"I know not, Saint. Why not ask the others for their opinion?"

Chi Hai could only turn to Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates.

"What do you think?" Chi Hai looked toward Li Qianjun.

Li Qianjun frowned. "I'm sure that one of Xiao Nanfeng's bodies is located in Yongding. Though Yongding's defenses are significant, there can't be three Boundless Immortals guarding it at all times. I think it may be viable for you to head to Yongding and catch one of Xiao Nanfeng's bodies in secret, Saint."

Chi Hai nodded, then turned to Yuan Wudi. "Your turn."

"Why not capture the Divine Emperor, Saint? She surely knows of Xiao Nanfeng's whereabouts. They may even be together," Yuan Wudi replied.

Chi Hai nodded and continued questioning the others.

Everyone in the hall expressed their thoughts. Chi Hai made no comment; he simply listened patiently.

Finally, he turned to Tang Zhengqi, who had been standing alone by the side of the hall. "And you."

Tang Zhengqi hurriedly knelt and kowtowed at Chi Hai.

Everyone eyed him warily again. What was Tang Zhengqi going to pull this time?

"Why are you kowtowing?" Chi Hai frowned.

"Your Eminence, I wouldn't dare refuse to answer your question, but my views differ from everyone else's. In fear that I would offend you, I'm kowtowing to you in advance."

Everyone: ...

What sort of strange reasoning was this?

"Say it," Chi Hai said, even more satisfied with Tang Zhengqi than before.

The other cultivators had treated the saint as if he were actually asking them from advice. As if he would need it! Tang Zhengqi's humility would serve him well.

"I believe that now may not be the best time to strike, Your Eminence."

"Oh?"

"That the Immortal Emperor thinks so highly of Xiao Nanfeng is clear proof of his prowess. Xiao Nanfeng cannot be allowed to grow, but a direct attack may not suffice. If it did, the Immortal Emperor would make a move himself. Furthermore, Xiao Nanfeng wields a heart sword bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor. Might he be anticipating your attack?" Tang asked.

"Hm?" Chi Hai narrowed his eyes.

He belatedly came to the realization that Lou Yujing was concerned not merely with Xiao Nanfeng himself, but also with his backer, Yu Fuli. Yu Fuli might be a foe that he would have to take on in the process.

If he were to rush over, would he have fallen for Yu Fuli's trap? Would Lou Yujing have successfully used Xiao Nanfeng as bait for him to take down Yu Fuli instead?

Chi Hai's face turned cold. He glared at Lou Yujing. No wonder Lou Yujing had refused to comment. He was waiting for Chi Hai to fall into his trap!

Lou Yujing really was deceptive, and his subordinates were either fools or pretending to be fools.

Only Tang Zhengqi truly respected him and showed him the courtesy he deserved.

He eyed the other cultivators with displeasure.

"Tang Zhengqi, you may talk to me standing up," Saint Chi Hai declared.

"Thank you, Your Eminence!" Tang kowtowed once more before standing up, making Chi Hai very pleased.

"How do you think Xiao Nanfeng should be handled?"

"Your Eminence, I'm sure you've already thought about this, but perhaps you should observe Xiao Nanfeng or probe him to see if he really does have Yu Fuli's support before making a move," Tang suggested.

Chi Hai nodded. It was a reasonable suggestion. Although it was clear that Tang was deliberately flattering him, he believed that his status afforded such treatment.

"What was your role in Hongyue?" Chi Hai asked.

"Thanks to Their Majesties' favor, I currently serve as the Minister of Rites in Hongyue," Tang explained.

"From today onwards, you'll be with me. You'll be my liaison with Hongyue and deal with matters involving Xiao Nanfeng," the saint said.

"Yessir! I'm honored to be given this responsibility. I'll serve you to the best of my ability, sir!" Tang exclaimed. He knelt and kowtowed once more.

Everyone in the hall stared at Tang's shameless behavior. They were taken aback. Where had such a bootlicker come from?

"I need an opportunity to test Xiao Nanfeng's skill. Lou Yujing, can you arrange for it?" Chi Hai asked.

Lou Yujing frowned. How was he to do so?

"Your Majesty, Shenfeng has sent an envoy bringing a declaration of war!" a guard reported from outside.

"Wait outside the hall!" Tu Jiuniang chided anxiously.

No one could disturb them while the saint was present.

The guard fell silent.

"A declaration of war from Shenfeng? This supposed Divine Emperor is allied with Xiao Nanfeng, isn't she?" Chi Hai asked.

"Indeed. Shenfeng has issued three denunciations to date. If I'm not mistaken, Xiao Nanfeng wrote them," Lou Yujing said.

"Oh? In that case, Xiao Nanfeng may have written this declaration of war as well. That's an opportunity to interact with him. See what's involved," Chi Hai instructed.

"Understood!" Lou Yujing nodded.