Chapter 755: Reliance on Tang Zhengqi

The divine pearl of resplendence possessed an incredible quantity of energy, though in so many forms and different elements that it was all but useless.

As Xiao Nanfeng's ten golden crows shattered the natural law binding the pearl, a tremendous burst of energy filled Xiao Nanfeng's body from within. The Divine Emperor saw all sorts of rainbow-colored light emanating from his body.

Fortunately, his techniques boasted incredible strength. At full power, his Sky of Ten Suns, Imposing Avatar of Rulai, and Jade Emperor's Frame sealed all that energy within his body, without allowing even a little to dissipate.

Six hours later, a tremendous wave of flames erupted from Xiao Nanfeng and flooded the palace.

The Divine Emperor suppressed the flames, then placed a hand on Xiao Nanfeng's shoulder to examine his body. "The eighth stage of the True Immortal realm... It really does take you forever to advance your cultivation. But don't worry—I'll help you find more Boundless Immortal relics in the future."

Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes to see the Divine Emperor's peerless beauty and the concern radiating from her eyes. He couldn't help but be touched.

"Is something wrong? Did you have a problem with your breakthrough?" the Divine Emperor asked immediately. She had noticed something unusual about Xiao Nanfeng's expression.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled gently. "I'm fine. You, on the other hand..."

"What about me?"

"You're really beautiful today."

The Divine Emperor flushed. "Haven't you seen enough of me?"

"I would never get tired of looking at you." Xiao Nanfeng lifted the Divine Emperor into the air as passion ignited deep within him.

The war between Shenfeng and Hongyue caught the attention of the world.

Although Shenfeng was known as a rising star, many believed that Hongyue was more likely to win. After all, Hongyue's reserves of strength were unparalleled, and Lou Yujing even had control of a zombie army.

After the first battle, however, they were shocked to see that Hongyue had only managed to defend one city while losing the other two. How could that be?

Hongyue had mobilized nine Boundless Immortals, a frightening quantity of strength that would have caused just about any other force to despair—but it had still lost. Just how much stronger did that make Shenfeng?

The forces continued to watch on. They had been planning to join the winning side as the war continued so that they could seize the losing side's territory, but they quickly changed their minds. A war between empires on this scale wasn't something they could interfere in. No matter which side they offended, they would be done for.

The forces observing the war belatedly realized that the reason neither empire had sent envoys or delegations to them was because it hadn't been necessary. They were neither a threat nor an advantage.

Though frustrated, there was nothing any of these forces could do but to remain where they were and maintain neutrality.

Strangely enough, after Shenfeng took down the two Immortal cities, it stopped advancing forward. Hongyue did the same. A strange peace befell the two empires again, leaving countless people and cultivators confused about what was going on.

The whole world's attention remained focused on the two empires.

At that moment, in a hall in Hongyue's capital, Lou Yujing had summoned a group of his confidantes and was awaiting the saint's presence.

Tu Jiuniang, Tu Siniang, and the others all glanced at each other in unease. Only Tang Zhengqi stood calm, poised, and even expectant.

Lou Yujing sat on a draconic throne. He glanced at the cultivators before him, smirking a little as he turned to Tang Zhengqi. The expression vanished in an instant; Lou Yujing was skilled at hiding his emotions.

Before long, a cloud of red fog emerged from the center of the hall, causing everyone to tense up.

The red fog condensed into the saint's figure.

"We greet the saint." Lou Yujing stood up and bowed. Everyone emulated him.

"We greet Your Eminence!" Tang Zhengqi was, again, the only one who knelt down to greet the saint.

Tu Siniang grimaced. The strategy she had proposed to the saint had caused the death of his avatar. She too wanted to kneel and beg the saint's forgiveness, but she didn't want to make her deep connection to the saint apparent to Lou Yujing. She could only grit her teeth and bear with it.

The saint eyed everyone coldly as he emerged, his features softening only when he saw Tang Zhengqi's sincere bow. Finally, he turned to Lou Yujing.

"Lou Yujing, you dare scheme against me?" the saint demanded.

"Hardly, Saint. I wouldn't dare," Lou Yujing replied.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"You're still trying to make excuses for yourself?!"

Though he sensed that something was amiss from the fact that he had lost five avatars at once, he didn't realize that Lou Yujing was responsible. He was simply playing up his losses so that Lou Yujing would feel even more indebted to him.

"Please calm down, Saint. That Xiao Nanfeng would emerge victorious was within my predictions," Lou Yujing said.

"Oh?" The saint narrowed his eyes.

"I know how skilled Xiao Nanfeng is, after all! It was precisely because I couldn't defeat him on my own that I enlisted your assistance, Saint. I was willing to cede all of Hongyue's fortune to get rid of him. Jiuniang and I went to Shenfeng ourselves to take on the enemy forces. We too suffered losses. Saint, you must have underestimated Xiao Nanfeng!"

"You dare blame me?!"

"No, I would never dare, Saint. That said, you're bolstered by heavenly law, so the loss of your avatars doesn't affect your main body. To assist you, Saint, I lost a Boundless Immortal relic, a third of my zombie army, and even the four zombie kings you borrowed. Would you be willing to compensate me for my losses, Saint?"

The saint had borrowed four zombie kings from Lou Yujing to make his avatars. Was Lou Yujing going to call in the debt?

The saint pursed his lips. He would admit that he owed Lou Yujing something, but he had no intention of repaying him right away, even if he could.

And if he wanted to avoid repaying that debt, it would be better not to criticize Lou Yujing too much.

The saint sniffed haughtily and changed the subject. "Let's talk about Xiao Nanfeng, then. Do you have any thoughts on how to catch him?"

Lou Yujing's eyes lit up. From that moment on, he was certain that the saint and Xiao Nanfeng had become enemies. The saint wasn't targeting Xiao Nanfeng for remuneration, but because of his own hatred for Xiao Nanfeng—and in doing so, became less rational, more impulsive, and more careless.

"If I did, Saint, I wouldn't have required your assistance," Lou Yujing replied. "My officials, however, are all skilled at strategy. Would you like them to help you come up with tactics and plans?"

The saint turned to Lou Yujing's officials. Their attitudes made him uncomfortable; only Tang Zhengqi, who remained kneeling, could pacify him a little.

"Why are you still kneeling, Tang Zhengqi?" the saint asked.

"I beg your forgiveness, Your Eminence, for not providing adequate warning during the battle. If I had been a little more adamant, perhaps the outcome of the battle would have been different. Please forgive me!"

Tu Siniang blanched. Tang had been entirely against her proposal to have the saint's avatar take to the battlefield. Her insistence had caused the death of the saint's avatar. Tang wasn't just begging the saint for forgiveness—he was trying to implicate her!

The saint thought back to what had happened at Bingxian. Tang had desperately attempted to stop him from making a move, but his trust in Tu Siniang led him to ignore Tang. His avatar had shot toward Zhao Yuanjiao, only to be cleaved by a single blow. At that point, it wasn't a matter of victory or defeat, but rather of shame. How could a Golden Immortal have taken him down so readily? If other saints were to learn about what had happened, he would be ridiculed to death!

The saint glared at Tu Siniang, who shuddered. "Please calm down, Saint! No one would have expected Zhao Yuanjiao to have a heart sword!"

Tang Zhengqi shook his head. "Tu Siniang, how dare you make excuses for yourself! The saint had been about to leave the battlefield following my warning. If you hadn't urged him on, he would never have attacked Zhao Yuanjiao! It's true that Zhao Yuanjiao had a heart sword, but his cultivation was weak. If you had continued fighting on your own and forced him to use the heart sword prematurely, His Eminence wouldn't have embarrassed himself. Not only that, Li Qianjun was the one who made a mess of battlefield command and forced His Eminence to intercede in the first place!"

"Tang Zhengqi, how dare you besmirch my reputation?" Li Qianjun roared.

He sent a palm technique flying at Tang, only for one to send him flying instead. The saint had interceded in Tang's favor.

"Husband, how could you make a move in the saint's presence?!" Tu Siniang exclaimed. She bowed toward the saint anxiously. "Saint, please calm down. My husband acted in haste."

The saint eyed Li Qianjun coldly. "You really are unskilled and petty, aren't you?"

Tang was absolutely right. How could he be blamed for being cut apart by Zhao Yuanjiao's heart sword? Tu Siniang had implored him to attack, and Li Qianjun's ineptitude as commander had forced him to intercede. If not for them, his avatar wouldn't have perished!

These useless fools! Meanwhile, Tang, who had been thoughtful and considerate, had seen through the enemy's scheme from the very beginning.

Li Qianjun grimaced, but didn't dare retort. He glared balefully at Tang.

Lou Yujing remained seated on his throne. He glanced at Tang thoughtfully. If he really were Xiao Nanfeng's spy, he was very skilled at what he did.

"Tang, I don't blame you for the situation. Stand up. I'll give you an opportunity to redeem yourself for what you've done."

"Thank you, Your Eminence!" Tang slowly stood up.

The saint nodded in satisfaction. "Now, how do you think we should deal with Xiao Nanfeng?"

Tang had completely gained the saint's trust. The saint was convinced that Tang was intelligent and loyal to him. If Tang's suggestion were reasonable, he would indeed consider adopting it.