Chapter 829: You Call This Being Alone

After Xiao Nanfeng's declaration, four towering pillars of green light rose up along the four cardinal directions, connecting to form a rectangular barrier that sealed off the entire area.

"What's going on? We've been trapped in some kind of formation! Who did this?" the cultivators shouted, emerging from the shadows as they rushed toward the barrier. They bombarded its inner walls with attacks, but despite their combined efforts, the barrier didn't budge.

"We can't get out? This can't be. Everyone, attack!" someone yelled anxiously.

A barrage of attacks struck the barrier, but it remained unscathed. It was impervious to even the most powerful attacks.

Xiao Nanfeng stood still and watched on. He could still sense the latent threat in the area. Suddenly, he turned toward a certain direction, from which a group of black-robed cultivators were approaching. Leading them was Saint Lun Hui.

The two cultivators stared each other down across the barrier. Tensions rose as a surge of killing intent flared from both cultivators.

"Xiao Nanfeng, we meet again," Saint Lun Hui called out.

"Saint Lun Hui? Is this an ambush? Do you know what you're doing? The Imperial Court will hunt you down!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.

Saint Lun Hui laughed coldly. "You fooled me last time, didn't you? You never reported the situation to Yu Fuli at all."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.

"I found out that you stationed your subordinates outside the Heavenly Palace as if they were going to report to Yu Fuli, but they never did. You must have known that he would ignore you, so you didn't dare approach him. You tricked me into giving up my advantage," Saint Lun Hui said coldly.

"How did you know?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"It's hardly difficult to investigate what's happening in the Imperial Court, especially when I have my subordinates keeping an eye on yours. Someone reported every detail to me."

"You have spies within the Imperial Court, then?"

"Think of them as spies if you'd like. Now that Lan Yaoguang and the Shangqing holy land's forces are gone, you won't be able to escape."

Saint Lun Hui and a black-robed cultivator charged toward Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't move; instead, two of his own black-robed cultivators shot forward.

Their fists met in a fiery collision that sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the barrier.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Whatever you have planned today, it's over for you!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at the cultivator beside Saint Lun Hui. "The head of Snowborne, is it? This time, there's no running away. Today will be the day of your death!"

"Die!" Xiao Nanfeng's two subordinates shouted in unison.

They shot forward, moving so quickly that the wind whipped their hoods back to reveal Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child's faces. The Demon Child sent waves of sword energy against the head of Snowborne, while Ye Sanshui took on Saint Lun Hui. Of course, this was only one of Saint Lun Hui's avatars; he would hardly risk showing his main body.

"Head of Snowborne, you managed to escape last time, but you won't be so lucky this time around!" the Demon Child shouted.

His strength only seemed to increase as the fighting progressed.

Meanwhile, Ye Sanshui was struggling against the saint's avatar, prompting Xiao Nanfeng's other subordinates to jump into the fray. Despite only being Golden Immortals, they were able to withstand blow after blow, helping Ye Sanshui handle the saint's avatar.

"If this is all you've got, none of you will be leaving today," Xiao Nanfeng declared coolly.

He retrieved the Immortal Emperor of Dahan's physical body, transformed into his yin body, and possessed the Immortal Emperor.

"Strike!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng joined the fray, heading toward the head of Snowborne and Saint Lun Hui respectively with a black coffin.

"Send them into the black coffin hidden realm," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui and the Demon Child replied.

With a deafening explosion, the head of Snowborne and Saint Lun Hui were sent flying. The two black coffins closed in on them.

"Xiao Nanfeng, do you think the same trick will work on me again?" Saint Lun Hui demanded coldly.

Two more black-robed cultivators shot toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng.

"Two more Boundless Immortals?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan and Tu Feng had no choice but to store the black coffins away and attack with their fists.

Four cultivators struck at full force, unleashing a storm of flames and wind. Howling gales unhooded the cultivators.

Tu Feng hurriedly clouded his face with fog, but neither of the two newcomers did so. They looked just like Saint Lun Hui.

"Two more of the saint's avatars?" Tu Feng exclaimed.

"Quite the preparation, Saint Lun Hui. Three of your avatars, just for me?"

The saint smirked. His three clones called out, "I can't afford to underestimate you, it seems. Now, it's time for you to die!"

"Hegemon's Fist!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

The battle erupted into a chaotic storm. Tremendous shockwaves emanated from the fighting cultivators and killed many trapped within the barrier.

"Eight Boundless Immortals? This is insane! Help!"

The weaker cultivators cried out in terror and coughed up blood from the force of the blasts.

The two sides clashed. They were locked in a stalemate for the moment.

"Xiao Nanfeng, did you know we were coming for you?" Saint Lun Hui demanded.

He had been told that Xiao Nanfeng would be alone, that it was a perfect opportunity to strike.

This was what his informant meant by "alone"?!

"I expected an ambush, though I wasn't sure you would be responsible. Saint Lun Hui, did you only bring three avatars?" Xiao Nanfeng taunted.

The saint's face darkened. Boundless Immortal avatars were hardly so easy to prepare; he had already lost three clones to Xiao Nanfeng. These were the last that he could spare. How could he have known that Xiao Nanfeng would be so well prepared?

"Only three avatars? You won't stand a chance, then. I've already sent for reinforcements. None of you will be leaving here today," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.

The saint glared, gritting his teeth. He turned and shouted, "Ao Canghai, aren't you going to make your move?"

"Ao Canghai?" Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.

A black-robed figure nearby hesitated, his face twisting with frustration. He had believed that Xiao Nanfeng would be isolated, and had even invited the head of Snowborne, and by extension Saint Lun Hui, to help catch Xiao Nanfeng off guard—not expecting that Xiao Nanfeng would be so prepared.

He didn't want to expose himself, but Saint Lun Hui demanded that he come. In order to convince the saint, he had no choice but to agree. Saint Lun Hui had promised not to expose his identity, but it seemed that he had gone back on his word.

Gritting his teeth, Ao Canghai had no choice but to fly over.

Knowing that his standing in the Imperial Court was now compromised, Ao Canghai frowned in resolve. His grudge against Xiao Nanfeng had ballooned. If killing Xiao Nanfeng required turning his back on the Imperial Court, then so be it.

He was no longer concerned about his former position as Eastern Aspect. Considering that he had been dismissed by Yu Fuli, it was unlikely that he would be able to reclaim his position. It would be better to seize this opportunity to side with the saint. Once he killed Xiao Nanfeng, he would seize Ao Zhou's inheritance.

"As you command, Saint." Ao Canghai stepped forward.

He didn't bother concealing his appearance. He tossed back his hood, his body radiating with killing intent.

"Ao Canghai, do you realize what you're doing? A Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, conspiring with outsiders to assassinate a Cardinal Aspect—this is a capital offense on par with treason!"

Ao Canghai sneered. "And what of it? I no longer care about my position as Martial Aspect. Xiao Nanfeng, it's time we settled our score. Today, you'll die!"

He vanished in a blur of movement, then reappeared close to Xiao Nanfeng. His fist shot forward as he roared like a dragon. The image of a dragon manifested around his fist as it swung toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan's head.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan, held back by one of Saint Lun Hui's avatars, was unable to defend himself.

"Die!" Ao Canghai cackled.

Just then, a folding fan appeared out of thin air and deflected Ao Canghai's punch. The fan and fist collided with an earth-shattering boom, unleashing a massive shockwave.

Ao Canghai's punch was abruptly halted, and he staggered back.

"Who's there?!" the onlookers gasped.

Ao Canghai stared in disbelief at yet another black-robed cultivator who had stepped between him and Xiao Nanfeng.

"Another Boundless Immortal? Xiao Nanfeng, just how many reinforcements did you prepare?!" Saint Lun Hui shouted in fury. He turned to Ao Canghai. "Didn't you say that Xiao Nanfeng would be alone?!"

Saint Lun Hui was livid. Driven by hatred, he had eagerly accepted Ao Canghai's invitation to ambush Xiao Nanfeng. Ao Canghai had assured him that Xiao Nanfeng would be isolated. Saint Lun Hui was skeptical and had come well prepared.

With five Boundless Immortals on his side, he should have been able to take down even a divine empire. Even so, Xiao Nanfeng had matched his strength. His side likewise had five Boundless Immortals—something that beggared belief.

Ao Canghai stared at the person who had deflected his attack. "Yang Chuan? What are you doing here?"

Standing protectively before Xiao Nanfeng was the Southern Aspect Yang Chuan.

"I invited Southern Aspect Yang to join me just in case," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly. "Ao Canghai, you've been exposed as a traitor now. Not even the heavens will be able to protect you."

Yang Chuan sneered. "Ao Canghai, how foolish can you get? How dare you collaborate with a saint to assassinate a Cardinal Aspect? You'll be executed in the Sieve of Heaven for all to see."

"You—no!" Ao Canghai cried out.

He knew that, if he were to lose now, he would be branded a traitor to the Imperial Court. Realizing that his chances of victory were dwindling, he let out a furious roar and charged forward in frenzied assault.

"Still trying to resist, are you? I'll kill you!" Yang Chuan shouted.

With another earth-shattering collision, the former Eastern Aspect and current Southern Aspect began to fight once more.