Chapter 840: Han Gucheng's Happy Family

Within the green knoll hidden realm, while Xiao Nanfeng fought off the Taiqing guardians, an unexpected jailbreak occurred in the dungeons of Yongding.

With a loud explosion, the dungeon outside the imperial palace erupted. Countless defensive formations were triggered and activated all across Yongding.

"There are intruders in Yongding! Deploy all defensive formations!" a guard shouted.

"How dare these thieves make trouble here in Yongding! After them!" a Golden Immortal shouted as he charged forward.

Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng, who were on guard in Yongding, were among the first to rush to the scene. As they launched their attacks into the cloud of dust that had risen up where the dungeons had once been, a figure was blasted into the sky and surrounded by the city's array of defensive formations. The sky was illuminated by 361 stars, with beams of starlight shining down from the heavens.

Ye Sanshui and the fog-shrouded Tu Feng shot into the sky after the figure who had been sent flying.

Xiao Nanfeng's avatar emerged from a hall and looked up into the air. "Han Gucheng?"

The cultivator who had rushed into Yongding and staged a jailbreak was none other than Han Gucheng. Of course, this wasn't his main body, but rather one of his many avatars.

Han Gucheng held a soul in his hand—none other than that of the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, Han Bing.

"Father, you're still alive? Father, I've suffered so much! You have to take revenge for me!" Han Bing exclaimed.

Han Gucheng eyed Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng, then turned toward Xiao Nanfeng and smirked. "Xiao Nanfeng, I thought you would have left that woman here in Yongding. It seems the treasures in the green knoll hidden realm are more important to you than this city."

"Did you know I was headed for Daxue's capital, Han Gucheng?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

Han Gucheng didn't reply. He eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. "You've had a victory today; now I have one too. We'll fight again soon in the future."

Then, he flew off with Han Bing's spirit.

"Hold it!" Ye Sanshui shouted, rushing to pursue him.

"Don't give chase!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng stopped short, then flew back to Yongding.

At that moment, a group of officials rushed over to Xiao Nanfeng. One whose face was filled with remorse pleaded, "Please punish me, Your Majesty. I didn't expect Han Gucheng to infiltrate Yongding."

"Please punish me as well, Your Majesty. I didn't think he would find out where we were detaining Han Bing's spirit!" another official responsible for the dungeon said.

Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand. "See to the injured and handle the aftermath."

"Understood!" the officials chorused immediately.

Ye Sanshui and Tu Feng landed nearby and followed Xiao Nanfeng into the study, where several other officials were awaiting them.

"Your Majesty, Han Gucheng is simply too strong. Even with a combined attack, neither Tu Feng nor I could scratch him. If he truly wanted to escape, I doubt even the two of us together could have done anything," Ye Sanshui said regretfully.

Xiao Nanfeng reassured him, "Don't worry. Nothing would have changed even if I had joined in."

"But..." Ye Sanshui hesitated.

Xiao Nanfeng shrugged. "Don't worry. Today's outcome was planned."

"Oh?" Ye Sanshui was shocked.

"Mr. Wen, please explain."

Wen Zhong nodded. "Sir Ye, Sir Tu, don't be too hard on yourselves. Today's events unfolded exactly as His Majesty anticipated."

"How so?" Ye Sanshui asked, confused.

"Han Gucheng is no easy opponent. Not only is he exceptionally strong, he's also cunning and strategic. He's been plotting against Saint Lun Hui within the green knoll hidden realm, fully aware of His Majesty's presence there. He must have considered both His Majesty and Madam Rouge as potential factors. He likely planned for two outcomes: if Madam Rouge remained in Yongding, he would overpower everyone in the green knoll hidden realm and seize the Taiqing Heart Lantern. Otherwise, he would instead cause chaos here in Yongding."

"What? Does Han Gucheng really have no qualms about sacrificing the divine empire of Daxue? Is his son really more important than the Taiqing Heart Lantern?" Ye Sanshui was astonished.

Wen Zhong frowned. "From what we learned, there's nothing particularly special about Han Bing. His soul is only at the level of a True Yin cultivator. We can only assume that Han Gucheng holds his family in very high regard. He's exceptionally devoted to his wives and deeply cares for his son."

"I see. But Han Gucheng must have some way of sensing his son's whereabouts. How else could he have found him so quickly from among Yongding's four dungeons?" Ye Sanshui frowned.

"No, you're mistaken. If His Majesty really wanted to hide Han Bing, he would never have been found. The reason Han Gucheng was able to rescue his son was because His Majesty allowed it to happen.

"But why?" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.

"Han Gucheng has immense strength. If we had engaged in actual battle, Yongding would surely suffer greatly, and countless civilians would perish. Rather than risk such catastrophe, we used Han Bing's soul as a bargaining chip to ensure peace for the city," Wen Zhong explained.

Xiao Nanfeng added, "In addition, I need Han Gucheng's help to locate the primordial altar. Only with his son's safe return will he focus fully on Saint Lun Hui. That's why I never threatened him with Han Bing."

"I see. Right—earlier, Han Gucheng said that you had seized victory, Your Majesty. Does that mean you succeeded in the green knoll hidden realm?"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "More or less, but Han Gucheng has impressive plans. He's definitely after something big."

"What's he after?" Ye Sanshui asked.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I'm not sure, but he seems to be manipulating Saint Lun Hui."

"What?!" Ye Sanshui was shocked.

What Immortal Emperor could manipulate a saint?

"Let's wait and see how things unfold," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Understood!" The cultivators glanced at each other and nodded.

High in the clouds, Han Gucheng was flying swiftly with his son's soul.

"Father, you're alive? I thought you were... It's so good to see you! If only Mother were here too," Han Bing sighed.

"Your mother is alive," Han Gucheng replied.

"She is?!" Han Bing exclaimed.

Han Gucheng nodded. He explained his plans within the green knoll hidden realm.

"What? Father, you and Mother managed to gain control of the entire realm?!"

"We intended for you to safeguard Dahan, but you fell for someone's scheme," Han Gucheng said, sighing.

"I did, but it won't happen again," Han Bing promised.

Han Gucheng patted his shoulder. "Learn from this lesson. There's a long road ahead of you."

"Got it." Han Bing nodded, his eyes red.

"Let's go pick something up. Then, I'll take you to see your mother."

"As you say, Father." Han Bing nodded.

Back in the green knoll hidden realm, within a certain hall, Han Gucheng's main body was healing Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing. His hands caressed their backs gently as he channeled Immortal qi into their bodies. After a while, they slowly began to recover.

The hall also held a pool filled with a medicinal elixir. Han Gucheng helped the two women in and slowly wiped at their wounds.

The two women were deeply touched by how tender Han Gucheng was.

"Forgive us, Husband. That wretched Xiao Nanfeng took advantage of us," Lin Wanqing said, sobbing.

Han Gucheng gently wiped her tears away. "Don't blame yourselves. I failed to make sufficient preparations. You've suffered more than enough."

"I..." Lin Wanqing's eyes turned red as she was overcome by guilt.

"Don't cry. You won't look pretty if you keep crying," Han Gucheng said kindly.

Lin Wanqing nodded, but despite Han Gucheng's comforting words, her tears continued to flow.

Han Gucheng then tended to Gan Qing's wounds. She too looked miserable. "Xiao Nanfeng really is relentless. He captured my son, desecrated his body, and robbed you of your opportunities. How did things go so wrong?"

"Don't lose heart. We haven't lost just yet. Xiao Nanfeng may have seized the Taiqing Heart Lantern, but he's also made a powerful enemy. Saint Lun Hui is sure to hate him now."

"But..." Gan Qing still seemed unconvinced.

"Besides, I rescued Bing'er. Soon, our family will be reunited."

"Really?" Gan Qing's eyes lit up.

"I'm collecting some things with Bing'er, and we'll be back in a few days. You'll be happier then," Han Gucheng promised.

"Husband, did you go to Yongding? Didn't you say it was incredibly dangerous, that the Divine Emperor might show up there at any time? What if something had happened?" Gan Qing asked in worry.

"Our family's happiness is worth the risk," Han Gucheng replied.

Gan Qing's eyes filled with gratitude as she clung to him.

Han Gucheng hugged the two women tightly, who flushed and looked toward him with affection...

Meanwhile, in the ruins of what had been Daxue's capital, Xiao Nanfeng's main body absorbed the massive Enlightenment Grounds as he advanced to the third stage of the Golden Immortal realm. After chatting with Madam Rouge, he produced a black coffin.

Within lay the remnants of the saint's avatar that had once served as overseer of the Enlightenment Grounds.

Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the black coffin with Madam Rouge.

They quickly arrived at a secluded valley where a large block of ice, the Ice Casket, trapped the frozen saint's avatar.

"The saint's gone..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.

"His yin body is at the level of a Deific Yin cultivator, and he can flee using heavenly law. The reason he didn't do it beforehand was because he didn't want to give up the Enlightenment Grounds; now that that's gone, there's no point for him to stay here any longer."

"I see. But why didn't he make use of his heart force? I'm sure he's started cultivating the heart."

"Saints can do so—but he didn't dare. If he does, Yu Fuli would have been able to sense his main body. The fact that you contacted Yu Fuli must have terrified him," Madam Rouge replied, smiling.

"I see," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Then, he picked up the Ice Casket.