Chapter 893: Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes

"You do have an idea, then? But you can't speak of it?" Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Blue Lantern with some confusion.

Blue Lantern hesitated for some time before smiling wryly. "Your Majesty, may we speak of it in private?"

Blue Lantern's reluctance was clear. Understanding that the matter might be too sensitive to discuss in public, Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well."

Xiao Nanfeng, Blue Lantern, and Yu'er returned to the imperial study.

After a moment of silence, Blue Lantern's expression grew increasingly conflicted. In the end, he sighed deeply. "Your Majesty, I'm not supposed to reveal this information, but I know how important this matter is to you. Since joining your court, I've seen how Dazheng has risen up and overcome challenge after challenge. Like Liu Miaoyin, I have faith in its future. This once, I will break my vow and confront my past mistakes."

"Oh?"

"My sect is known as the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes, and its founder was the hegemon of the era ninety thousand years ago. He focused predominantly on formations, and just about all the greatest formations of the present originated from the sect," Blue Lantern began.

"Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes? What a domineering name," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. From the primordial altar, our founder obtained a cursed effigy—a bronze compass—from the world beyond. With this bronze compass, he reached unparalleled heights, creating formations that could rival even the heavens. However, his formations were rooted in the earth, and fully unleashing them would have wiped out all living beings in the mortal realm. Knowing this, our founder chose not to deliver the final blow," Blue Lantern said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded seriously.

"Our founder's compassion ultimately led to his defeat. The heavens, fearing his might, massacred the people, then sealed the bronze compass and the remains of our sect within the wild wastes hidden realm. Furthermore, the heavens cursed the bronze compass, ensuring that the heavens would be alerted if he were ever to revive."

"What happened next?"

"Knowing that he would be targeted by the heavens, our founder made preparations in advance. He split the bronze compass into eight fragments to avoid the heavens' curse, hoping that future generations would be able to inherit his legacy and fulfill his mission," Blue Lantern explained.

"Your founder's sacrifice was truly noble," Xiao Nanfeng remarked.

"The Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes therefore fragmented into eight factions, each inheriting one piece of the bronze compass. The Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei are leaders of two such factions, and each possess a piece of the compass, granting them unparalleled mastery of formations. In addition, they can cast powerful curses. The curse on Yu'er was placed by Shi Tianbei using his fragment of the bronze compass, and only another fragment can undo it."

"In other words, aside from the two fragments held by the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei, six are still unaccounted for?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Yes, but I heard that the remaining factions have since scattered. Most of the factions have left the wild wastes hidden realm and spread out across the world."

"Do you not know where they went?"

Blue Lantern shook his head. "I am entirely unaware, Your Majesty. They've likely changed their identities. I only became aware of the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei's involvement recently thanks to Your Majesty."

Xiao Nanfeng fell silent for a moment.

"However, one faction, the one I belonged to, is likely still within the wild wastes hidden realm as a result of our special circumstances," Blue Lantern explained.

"You mean that there's still a piece of the bronze compass in the wild wastes hidden realm, then?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

Blue Lantern nodded. "It belongs to my faction. Unfortunately, as a result of a grave mistake I made long ago, I was expelled from the sect. I swore never to return or to reveal anything about it."

Xiao Nanfeng now understood Blue Lantern's predicament. He sighed. "I apologize for putting you in such a difficult position.

Blue Lantern shook his head. "It's alright. I've made peace with it, Your Majesty. I swore that I would bear whatever karmic cost came with breaking my oath. I'm willing to guide you to the wild wastes hidden realm to recover the piece of the compass. Your Majesty, I hope you'll assist me in reclaiming it as well."

"Of course. I'll do everything I can to help. It benefits us both."

"The wild wastes hidden realm is unusual. Due to the heavens' restrictions, all cultivation is suppressed to the Golden Immortal realm, and higher-level cultivators will be targeted by the heavens. Your Majesty's skills will be unmatched there," Blue Lantern explained.

"Excellent news." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Your Majesty, please give me some time to prepare. I will lead you there once I'm ready."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Hold on! I have something you should see. Is it related to the bronze compass?" Yu'er suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh?" Both cultivators turned to her.

Yu'er took out a long piece of golden jade that shimmered faintly.

"This is..." Blue Lantern's eyes widened.

"This is the golden jade that Shi Tianbei used as the source of his formation when he cursed me. I stole it. What does it do?"

"Blue Lantern, are you familiar with this item?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Blue Lantern smiled wryly. "Xia Yu'er truly is lucky."

"Oh? What treasure is this?" Yu'er's eyes lit up.

"This is one of the eight pure yang pillars of the wild wastes hidden realm. It contains pure yang energy."

"A pure yang pillar?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Indeed. The eight pure yang pillars were left behind by none other than our founder, and can absorb pure yang energy from the world. They've done so for ninety thousand years, and contain a vast supply of energy. They can even resist heavenly law. The grave crime I committed was to cause one of the pillars to topple, leading to calamity within the wild wastes hidden realm. I was expelled from the sect as a result. The eight pure yang pillars were eventually split up among the eight factions. To think you managed to steal Shi Tianbei's pillar! He must be beyond furious..." Blue Lantern murmured.

"This is called a pure yang pillar? How do I use it, then?" Yu'er asked curiously.

"Your Majesty, you once asked how the Immortal Emperor of Dachi was able to advance so many of his subordinates to the Boundless Immortal realm. I was worried about revealing the secrets of my sect then, so I didn't elaborate. Now, I will. If I'm not mistaken, he likely used the energy within his pure yang pillar to infuse his subordinates with yang energy and facilitate their breakthroughs."

"One pillar can create a whole batch of Boundless Immortals?" Yu'er's eyes widened.

"Indeed. Shi Tianbei may have done the same, though he must have kept it hidden."

Yu'er grimaced. She turned toward Xiao Nanfeng, who nodded. "Don't worry. I'll let Father-in-Law know immediately so he can be prepared."

Yu'er blushed. "Who said he's your father-in-law?"

Xiao Nanfeng smiled and turned back to Blue Lantern. "Can Yu'er directly absorb the energy from this pure yang pillar?"

"I'm afraid Xia Yu'er won't be able to digest it. If possible, you should absorb the energy within, Your Majesty."

"Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"This is pure yang energy. Shi Tianbei and the Immortal Emperor of Dachi must have imparted it only to men; women risk developing masculine traits, such as facial hair and the like," Blue Lantern replied. [1]

Yu'er's eyes widened. "I wouldn't dare absorb this energy. Nanfeng, you take it." Yu'er passed the pure yang pillar to Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng's brows furrowed.

"Don't worry. What's mine is yours," Yu'er said.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled gently and nodded. "Thank you."

Blue Lantern frowned. "Right, you mentioned that Shi Tianbei used this pure yang pillar to erect a formation, and that his residence lies underneath a Yuqing yin pillar. Is that so?"

"That's right! What's the matter?" Yu'er asked.

"Perhaps Shi Tianbei will feel the loss of his pure yang pillar more acutely than I imagined," Blue Lantern said, laughing.

"What do you mean?"

"The Yuqing yin pillar is pure yin in nature. Only the Yuqing Grandmaster was able to corral this energy and control it despite being a man; no other male cultivator would be able to do so. This was why he arranged for twelve holy maidens to absorb the pillars, rather than the twelve Mountain Lords."

"We previously hypothesized that one of the holy maidens was a decoy, and that Shi Tianbei was absorbing the Yuqing yin pillar in her place. Did he need this pure yang pillar to do so?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Even Shi Tianbei is unlikely to be able to control the pure yin energy from the Yuqing yin pillar on his own. He needs the pure yang pillar to ward off its effects."

"In that case, can Shi Tianbei continue absorbing energy from the pillar?" Yu'er's eyes lit up.

"In theory, yes, but strange things may happen." Blue Lantern smiled.

"What things?" Yu'er pressed.

"If he cannot suppress the pure yin energy, Shi Tianbei may exhibit feminine traits."

"Is the yin energy from the Yuqing yin pillars that strong?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"It's possible," Blue Lantern replied.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

In Yu'er's mind, an image rose unbidden: Shi Tianbei having lost his beard, with protrusions on his chest, daintily holding a handkerchief in his hand, and smiling coyly.

She shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her skin.

1. Makes you wonder if pure yang energy is just testosterone... ☜