Chapter 908: Sowing Discord

On the Eastern Sea, outside the wild wastes hidden realm, Shi Tianbei hurriedly departed even before the Immortal Emperor of Dachi could do so.

"Everyone, I have some matters to attend to and must take my leave. I will no longer concern myself with the matter of the bronze compass. Farewell," Shi Tianbei said, bowing slightly.

Then, without further explanation, he left in haste.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Su Qingchan exchanged glances with each other. "Xiao Nanfeng isn't just targeting us, but Shi Tianbei as well. He's truly swift and decisive," Su Qingchan remarked, frowning.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi didn't reply. Instead, he turned to the gathered black-robed figures. "Everyone, I must depart as well. Until another day."

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi swiftly left with his subordinates in tow.

The other black-robed figures were surprised by the sudden departures.

"Why are they leaving so suddenly?" someone exclaimed.

"Why else? Xiao Nanfeng forced their hand."

"Xiao Nanfeng? Isn't he within the wild wastes hidden realm?"

"Are you out of the loop? Or have your subordinates just not informed you about recent developments yet?"

"Oh?"

Alarmed, the black-robed figure pulled over a subordinate to inquire about these 'recent developments'. After a brief exchange, he learned of what was going on.

"The Immortal Emperor of Dachi declared war on Dazheng? At such a critical moment?!"

"Think again," someone nearby interjected.

Realization dawned as the cultivator turned pale. "Are you saying that Dazheng started the war? Xiao Nanfeng's forcing the Immortal Emperor of Dachi to return?"

"What else could it be?" another black-robed figure interjected.

"And what about Shi Tianbei?"

"My sources say that Xiao Nanfeng sent people to meet with Yang Chuan. He was in secluded cultivation, but suddenly emerged and stormed into the Yuqing holy land. He convened a meeting of the Mountain Lords and threw the entire sect into chaos."

"You have spies in the Yuqing holy land?" someone else exclaimed.

"I just heard the rumors. I could hardly have spies there," the person deflected, laughing awkwardly.

Regardless, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng had to drive them away from the exit to the wild wastes hidden realm if he wanted to leave.

Two of the seven factions had already been forced to retreat. Just five remained.

"Do you think Xiao Nanfeng knows our identities? Has he prepared methods to deal with us?" one black-robed figure wondered.

"Oh? I'm intrigued. I'd like to see just how Xiao Nanfeng intends to force me to leave."

At that moment, one of the black-robed figures spoke up. "And here they come. Xiao Nanfeng's already starting to move against us."

The others followed his gaze to see a group of Dazheng officials flying toward them.

The officials descended and turned to the gathered black-robed cultivators. One smiled and bowed. "I am a representative of Dazheng's Ministry of Rites. Greetings, everyone."

"Did Xiao Nanfeng send you here? What do you want?" one black-robed figure asked coldly.

"His Majesty has a message to relay to you," the official replied.

"Oh?"

The Dazheng officials landed on a mountain peak and began to set up a few treasures. Very quickly, a projection of Xiao Nanfeng appeared above the mountain peak.

"Through this projection, our avatars will relay His Majesty's words and actions from Yongding," the Dazheng official said.

The black-robed cultivators glanced at the projection curiously.

Xiao Nanfeng's projection smiled. "Everyone, now that Dazheng and Dachi are at war, I apologize for not being able to meet you in person. Allow me to communicate with you in this manner."

Xiao Nanfeng's voice came from a certain treasure that the officials had synchronized with the transmission from Yongding.

"And what's there to discuss, Xiao Nanfeng? Are you here to beg for mercy?"

"You mustn't have considered this possibility when you led the Fenghuang faction to kill my disciples."

"Xiao Nanfeng, it's too late for apologies now!"

The black-robed figures hurled accusations one after another.

Xiao Nanfeng chuckled. "Everyone, don't you think you're overestimating yourselves?"

"What did you say?" one figure sneered.

"Do you truly think you can trap me in the wild wastes hidden realm?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Can't we?"

Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "If I really wanted to deal with you cowardly scoundrels, I could eliminate all of you today."

"Insolence!" the black-robed cultivators seethed.

"Have I not made myself clear? It'll be simple enough for me to kill you. You're well aware that I have the means to summon more Boundless Immortals to assist me than are in your group."

"Then do it," one black-robed figure challenged.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Xiao Nanfeng smirked.

He waved a hand. Two more delegations arrived, one representing Shenfeng and the other representing Dajing.

A shadowy aura emanated from the Shenfeng officials, identifying them as shadow cursed effigies. They bowed deeply toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"Emperor Xiao, Her Majesty instructed us to inquire if you need assistance. She is prepared to travel here immediately," the Shenfeng official began.

The Dajing officials followed suit. "Emperor Xiao, Her Majesty is prepared to aid you as well."

The two delegations treated Xiao Nanfeng with extreme deference, leaving the black-robed figures visibly shaken.

Xiao Nanfeng dismissed them both with a wave. "Stand by for now."

"Understood!" the two delegations replied in unison as they stepped aside.

Turning back to the black-robed figures, Xiao Nanfeng continued, "I won't waste words. You know that, as the former Eastern Aspect of the Imperial Court, I'll be able to summon my old comrades for assistance as well."

The black-robed figures fell silent.

"Xiao Nanfeng, even if you call for the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin, we have more Boundless Immortals. You won't be able to stop us," one of them said coldly.

"Perhaps some of you might escape, but do you truly wish to risk mutual destruction?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

The black-robed figures exchanged uneasy glances.

"What do you propose?" one of them finally asked.

"A truce," Xiao Nanfeng said. "Withdraw now, and we'll settle this another time. You simply want the bronze compass, and I want to protect my subordinates. There is no great enmity between us. I did kill a fair number of your disciples, but I am as responsible for that as you are."

"What's the point of saying all this?" that black-robed cultivator demanded.

"The reason I didn't summon the Immortal Emperors of Shenfeng and Dajing here outright is because I don't believe there's any need for a heated battle just yet."

"Oh? You want a ceasefire?" the cultivator smirked.

"No. I'm here to schedule a fight," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The black-robed cultivators glanced at each other in surprise, not understanding what Xiao Nanfeng meant. Didn't he want to avoid fighting? What sort of fight did he intend to schedule?

"You won't be able to stop me or Blue Lantern today. I recommend that you retreat. We can challenge each other some other day. Whether you obtain Blue Lantern's bronze compass then, or whether I obtain yours, will be up to our respective strength."

"Xiao Nanfeng, dream on! You're just trying to trick us into leaving, aren't you?" one of the black-robed cultivators scoffed.

"Don't interrupt. Let him finish," another black-robed cultivator interjected. He turned back to Xiao Nanfeng. "Continue, please."

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "As you've seen, the war between Dazheng and Dachi has begun. I propose that you join in and reap the spoils of our fighting."

"You want us to take advantage of the situation?" a black-robed cultivator exclaimed.

"No—how arrogant you are. You think you'll be able to take down Dachi and the rest of us in one fell swoop!" another exclaimed.

All the black-robed cultivators glanced at Xiao Nanfeng in shock.

"Precisely. Dazheng will take on all of you simultaneously."

"Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, do you think we're that easy to trick?"

"Whether or not I'm tricking you, you can judge for yourself. Either we fight to the death now and have the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei benefit, or I fight the Immortal Emperor of Dachi to the death and have the rest of you benefit. The choice is obvious."

The black-robed cultivators fell silent.

Indeed, if Xiao Nanfeng really were to summon the two Immortal Emperors and gather his comrades from the Imperial Court, he would have sufficient strength to take on the gathered black-robed cultivators. Not only might they fail to claim Blue Lantern's bronze compass, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Shi Tianbei might take advantage of them while they were crippled.

On the other hand, if they agreed to Xiao Nanfeng's plan, they would be able to leave with minimal losses and stand to gain significant profit as a result.

They were tempted by Xiao Nanfeng's offer.

As for the Golden Immortal disciples of theirs who had perished, that was a loss they were able to accept.

"Have you made up your mind?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.

The black-robed cultivators glanced at each other, then had a rapid-fire exchange of mental transmissions.

Finally, one of them stepped forward. "Very well. Xiao Nanfeng, we accept your challenge. We'll have a showdown sooner or later."

"Very well," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The black-robed cultivators eyed Xiao Nanfeng before simultaneously taking flight and leaving the island.

All this was witnessed by spies from nearby forces situated on the islands in the vicinity, who quickly spread word of the news throughout the region.

When the Immortal Emperor of Dachi and Su Qingchan learned of what had happened, they too were shocked.

"Xiao Nanfeng managed to force everyone to leave with just a group of ordinary officials?" Su Qingchan exclaimed.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi stopped short, then frowned. "We've been tricked. Xiao Nanfeng has sown discord among us."