Chapter 898: Acquiring the Bronze Compass

In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfneg's avatar was reviewing official documents when a commotion arose outside.

"I have to see Xiao Nanfeng! Don't block my way—I have urgent matters to discuss!" Ao Zhou shouted.

"Dragon King Ao Zhou, please wait a moment. I'll report your arrival."

"Don't! By the time you finish, my injuries will have healed. These wounds were inflicted as a result of my loyalty to Dazheng! Get out of my way!"

"This is against protocol, Dragon King. Please wait a moment."

The scuffle and argument outside grew louder.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned and set down his brush. "It's fine. Let him in."

"Understood!" the guards replied.

Moments later, Ao Zhou entered the study, his face slightly swollen and his body covered in blood.

"What happened to you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, puzzled.

"Look at me! These injuries were all for the sake of Dazheng. You have to seek justice on my behalf!" Ao Zhou cried out.

"What's going on?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.

"A group of black-robed cultivators came to the Eastern Sea, claiming that they wanted to demolish the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace and set a trap to lure you there. Look what they did to me! It was all because I refused to cooperate with their plot against you!" Ao Zhou shouted indignantly.

"They want to scheme against me? Who are they?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"How should I know? They're still setting up a formation over there. They said that you'd be doomed this time! When I told them that you were once the Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court, they mocked you, saying that you were nothing, that they were intent on taking you down!" Ao Zhou continued, spinning up lies without batting an eye.

Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, sensing that Ao Zhou wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you believe me? If you don't, come with me and see for yourself! There's a whole group of them, a coalition with seven factions and several Boundless Immortals. You'll know when you see it," Ao Zhou urged, attempting to drag Xiao Nanfeng into the fray.

He knew that Xiao Nanfeng wasn't particularly strong himself, but he knew two strong Immortal Emperors. It would be best if Xiao Nanfeng headed there with the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin to avenge him.

"Where are they setting up this array?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Ao Zhou quickly described where he had been beaten up—the island leading into the wild wastes hidden realm.

Xiao Nanfeng immediately guessed the truth. They had to be the seven other factions of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes gathering for an assault, likely after sensing Blue Lantern's return. Ao Zhou, that shameless liar, was just trying to bait him into the conflict.

"Let's go! They probably haven't gone far. I'll lead the way. Right, you'd better get the Divine Emperor, Liu Miaoyin, and Yang Chuan and the others to join you. They're strong, I'm telling you. If they manage to flee, you'll be done for!" Ao Zhou was clearly being very 'considerate' of Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Ao Zhou with a wry look on his face. Though Ao Zhou's motives were self-serving, his information had been critical. The other seven factions of the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes had indeed noticed Blue Lantern's return and were preparing to attack.

Within a fog-shrouded forest in the wild wastes hidden realm, Blue Jade brought Blue Lantern and the others toward the mouth of a valley.

Within the valley were no lavish and ornate palaces, just simple rural huts. There were farmers tilling fields and some children running around, like a small, rustic village. Who would have guessed that this was the headquarters of the Fenghuang faction?

Upon reaching the mouth of the valley, guards quickly noticed the group.

"Senior Aunt, you've been injured!" the guards exclaimed, rushing over.

Upon seeing the cultivators behind Blue Jade, they frowned in consternation. One asked, clearly on guard, "Senior Aunt, who are these outsiders? Are you betraying our faction?"

Blue Jade shook her head. "Take a good look at him."

Many of the guards were puzzled, never having met Blue Lantern, but the guard who had spoken suddenly widened his eyes.

"S-Senior Uncle?!" the man exclaimed.

Blue Lantern nodded.

The other guards were still confused. What was the first guard talking about?

"Senior Brother, let's head inside," Blue Jade said.

Blue Lantern glanced at the valley before him and suddenly stopped short.

"How often does my father awaken?" Blue Lantern asked.

"It's uncertain. Master has told us that we should handle regular matters without his oversight. If we are to consult him, we need to prepare to awaken him a day in advance. His awakening is incredibly taxing."

"Please wake my father. I'll wait here," Blue Lantern said.

Blue Jade nodded. "Very well."

Blue Lantern knelt at the mouth to the valley, his eyes red, his heart heavy.

Blue Jade rushed into the valley and summoned the senior disciples within as they prepared to awaken their master.

The guard who had addressed Blue Lantern as Senior Uncle glanced at him with a complicated expression on his face. He immediately ordered the disciples in the valley not to disturb him.

Xiao Nanfeng and the others waited in the distance, behind where Blue Lantern knelt.

Before long, the most powerful cultivators of the valley learned of Blue Lantern's return.

"Has Senior Brother really returned? Wonderful!"

"How dare that scumbag return? He ruined our faction!"

"Nonsense! He wasn't responsible for our suffering!"

They emerged from the valley one after another. Some were thrilled by Blue Lantern's return, and others infuriated.

Upon seeing him kneel at the mouth of the valley, however, everyone paused.

Those who had been upset with him suddenly recalled how much Blue Lantern had guided them in their youth. Their anger faded. Thinking about how much Blue Lantern had protected them from the disciples of other factions,they couldn't bring themselves to hold onto their grudges. In the end, as they glanced at each other, their emotions faded away.

Meanwhile, Blue Jade activated a certain formation in the valley, which brimmed with blue light and seemed to stimulate Blue Jade's master's awakening.

A day wasn't particularly long, but it was a grueling period for Blue Lantern.

He had told Xiao Nanfeng that he wanted to reclaim the bronze compass of his faction, but now that he was face to face with his past, his repressed memories of guilt surged to the forefront of his mind. Upon hearing that his father had all but become a living corpse, grief lined his eyes.

Finally, a day later, the array deep within the valley suddenly dimmed. A weak cough emerged from a certain cottage.

"Ahem!"

"Master, I apologize for disturbing your rest," Blue Jade said, kneeling.

"What is the matter?" the ancient, frail voice asked, tinged with exhaustion.

Outside, everyone fell silent. They glanced at Blue Lantern in worry.

"What's going on? Why isn't anyone speaking?" the ancient voice asked once more.

Outside the valley, Blue Lantern began to cry. He knelt down and shouted, "Father, I've returned."

The house fell into an eerie silence. Everyone held their breath, knowing how much Blue Lantern's father had once doted on him, how much hope he had placed on him—and how profoundly disappointed he had ultimately been.

Blue Lantern's behavior had resulted in calamity to the sect. The Fenghuang faction had, for many years, been unable to face the other factions out of shame, and Blue Lantern's act had ultimately caused the sect to fracture.

Blue Lantern didn't defend himself. He awaited judgment from his father who lay within the valley.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Xiao Nanfeng bit his lip. If the master of the bronze compass had been an outsider, he could have made a move and claimed the bronze compass for Blue Lantern, but how was he to attack Blue Lantern's father? Blue Lantern would have to deal with matters himself.

After a tense moment, a sigh came from within the house.

Everyone relaxed. The sigh seemed to release the tension in the air. It meant acceptance, rather than anger.

"Come in," the frail voice said.

"Understood!" Blue Lantern replied.

He immediately stood up and rushed toward the house.

An old man with disheveled hair and a translucent figure in green stepped out. He seemed ethereal, like a weakened soul or fading projection.

The disciples of the Fenghuang faction were used to their master's appearance by now, but Blue Lantern immediately knelt again. His eyes grew tearful. "Father, I've failed you."

"You abolished your cultivation and started anew?" the old man exclaimed.

"I headed to the undying realm and was imprisoned there for a thousand years. My cultivation was all but crippled. I've brought disgrace upon you," Blue Lantern said bitterly.

The old man's gaze softened as he gently placed a hand on Blue Lantern's head.

"You did, but I hope that you can reclaim the honor that we've lost." The old man's eyes glistened as well.

Blue Lantern's head jerked up. Had his father forgiven him?

"Of course. Father, I'll do everything to reclaim our honor!" Blue Lantern vowed.

"And avenge the disciples who perished because of you. Their blood debt must be repaid," the elder intoned.

"Understood!" Blue Lantern vowed, wiping away his tears.

"Your junior disciples have suffered gross indignity and countless grievances. Help them reclaim their reputation."

"Yes, Father!" Blue Lantern gritted his teeth.

His juniors wiped at their eyes. They had suffered tremendously after Blue Lantern's expulsion, and especially during the last five centuries. Would they finally be able to show themselves with their heads held high?

The old man addressed the disciples gathered all around them. "I've waited years for someone worthy to inherit the bronze compass and lead the Fenghuang faction, but I have found no one qualified to do so. Today, I ask that you allow me an act of selfishness. Let me induct Blue Lantern back into the sect and have him lead all of you anew. Will you accept him?"

The disciples, many of them in tears, bowed. "We will!"

The old man smiled. "I don't want to go against my vows, but I'm too weak to go on. The others have gone crazy. They'll tear you apart without a new faction head—but Blue Lantern will protect you in the future. Be well, my dear disciples."

"Master?" The disciples glanced at the old man in shock.

"Father, you can infuse your soul into the bronze compass and become a compass cursed effigy! Why not do so?" Blue Lantern exclaimed.

The old man shook his head. "Half my truesoul has already dissipated. If not for the bronze compass, I wouldn't even have lasted this long."

"No—Father!" Blue Lantern cried out.

"Blue Lantern, my greatest wish has ever been to revive the Supreme Sect of the Wild Wastes. You are my proud son. I entrust this wish to you."

Then, with a wave of his hand, an ancient bronze compass emerged from his spectral figure as it dissipated.

"Father, no! Don't go!" Blue Lantern cried out in horror.

"Now that you've returned, I need persist no longer. Blue Jade and the others are well equipped to handle matters of administration. Live well, and live on." The old man placed the bronze compass in Blue Lantern's hands, then quickly faded away.

"Master!"

"Master!"

"Father!"

Tears flowed freely as the valley mourned his passing.