Chapter 915: A Hidden Plot

On a mountain peak outside Yongding, fog shrouded the summit where a group of black-robed cultivators had gathered. At their forefront were three figures: Su Tianxin and his senior and junior brothers.

"Su Tianxin, this is the extent of your brilliant plan? Taking down Xiao Nanfeng in a direct confrontation?" his senior brother asked, clearly dissatisfied.

"Senior Brother, this is the fastest and most direct way to end the conflict," Su Tianxin replied with a smile.

"The fastest and most direct way? Su Tianxin, you were always a schemer who looked down on brute force. What changed?" his senior brother demanded.

"You've misunderstood me, Senior Brother. Right now, all of Xiao Nanfeng's strongest allies are tied up elsewhere, leaving Yongding essentially defenseless. If we don't act now, when will we?" Su Tianxin smiled.

"You'd better not be mistaken," his senior warned.

"Don't worry. I'm sure this plan is sound. Let's get going. Once we claim Blue Lantern's bronze compass and seize Xiao Nanfeng's fortunes, this trip will be well worth it."

"Very well, then—but look at all these formations that Blue Lantern has laid out around Yongding," his senior brother replied, frowning.

"Would we need to worry about such formations?" Su Tianxin chuckled.

"Indeed. We're familiar with all formations in the world. Let's not waste time!" his junior brother proclaimed.

As they advanced toward Yongding, streaks of light suddenly appeared in the air. Golden runes emerged in concentric circles, forming an invisible barrier that blocked their path.

Su Tianxin reached out and plucked at the golden runes, attempting and failing to dispel them. He remarked in surprise, "Impressive. To think Blue Lantern would be able to set up such formations so quickly after acquiring a piece of the bronze compass for himself."

"Let's break it with brute force," his senior brother suggested.

Just then, a voice could be heard from high above them. "Zeng Tianqi, Su Tianxin, Hu Tianlong—Senior Uncles, it's been years. How have you been?"

Everyone looked up to see Blue Lantern standing in the air, a portal of void swirling behind him.

"You have reached the Boundless Immortal realm after all, Blue Lantern," Zeng Tianqi said coldly.

"Does my achievement disappoint you, Zeng Tianqi? Even so, I have to show you some courtesy as guests from afar. Near the city of Yongding lies the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm, where I've been setting up a major formation. Would you like to give me pointers on what I've wrought?" Blue Lantern said pointedly.

The group tensed at his words. Hu Tianlong frowned and whispered, "Did Blue Lantern know that we were coming?"

"No—he must have noticed us after we arrived. It's normal for him to have been setting up formations. He emerged after sensing our presence," Su Tianxin replied.

"Let's head in together and teach him a lesson," Zeng Tianqi said.

Su Tianxin was just about to nod when someone interjected, "Since you're all senior cultivators from Blue Lantern's sect, don't you think it's rather shameful to gang up on him? I think it best that you send just one cultivator in for a fair fight."

The black-robed figures looked down to see Xiao Nanfeng and his courtly officials emerging from his palace and glaring at them.

"Xiao Nanfeng?" The cultivators narrowed their eyes.

Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "What's the matter? Don't you dare face one of your juniors one-on-one?"

The black-robed men exchanged glances.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Zeng Tianqi said quietly.

Su Tianxin shook his head. "What's there to feel uneasy about? We knew that Xiao Nanfeng and Blue Lantern would be here. It's natural that they would want to confront us now that they've been alerted about our presence."

"How should we proceed, then?" Zeng Tianqi asked.

Su Tianxin evaluated the situation. "It's not a big deal, is it? No one in the world can surpass us when it comes to formations. Blue Lantern might be talented, but he only recently became a Boundless Immortal. He's no match for us."

"Walking into an obvious trap, are you?" Zeng Tianqi asked coldly.

"How about this? I'll head into the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm to deal with Blue Lantern, while the two of you handle Xiao Nanfeng," Su Tianxin suggested.

Both Zeng Tianqi and Hu Tianlong looked displeased by that suggestion.

Between Blue Lantern and Xiao Nanfeng, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng was the greater threat. And if someone were to fight Blue Lantern alone and win, that someone would claim the bronze compass—the main reason they had come in the first place.

"Why don't we ignore Blue Lantern and handle Xiao Nanfeng together?" Zeng Tianqi suggested.

Su Tianxin shook his head. "Blue Lantern controls the bronze compass, meaning that he can manipulate the formations in the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm and bring them outside."

"So you're determined to fight Blue Lantern alone?" Zeng Tianqi asked.

"Why not? I can end things quickly and return to help you deal with Xiao Nanfeng." Su Tianxin smiled.

"Don't forget, Su Tianxin—it was your idea to target Xiao Nanfeng all along. This isn't our fight," Zeng Tianqi said coldly.

"Xiao Nanfeng issued a challenge to all of us. Besides, we're all enemies to Blue Lantern. Why distinguish between you and me now?"

Zeng Tianqi fell silent.

"If you don't want me to face Blue Lantern, one of you can go instead," Su Tianxin added.

"I'll deal with Blue Lantern," Zeng Tianqi said grimly.

"Very well, Senior Brother. Given your skill, you'll be able to escape unscathed even if unexpected dangers arise," Su Tianxin replied.

"Hmph!" Zeng Tianqi snorted and turned to his disciples. "Follow me!"

"Understood!"

Three black-robed disciples followed Zeng Tianqi toward Blue Lantern.

Blue Lantern smiled. "Zeng Tianqi, I've been interested in your skills. Follow me."

With a flick of his wrist, Blue Lantern flew into the portal.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Zeng Tianqi paused to scan the portal with his bronze compass.

"Zeng Tianqi, you're as cautious as ever. No wonder the sect master once called you a coward incapable of great deeds, haha!" Blue Lantern's mocking laughter echoed from the other side.

"You reckless brat, you've sealed your fate!" Zeng Tianqi replied.

After confirming that the portal was safe, Zeng Tianqi and his disciples stepped through. The portal sealed shut behind them with a boom.

"Junior Brother, let's go. We'll end things quickly," Su Tianxin said.

"Very well," Hu Tianlong replied.

Just then, Xiao Nanfeng chuckled from below. "Su Tianxin, are you sure you're in a position to attack right now?"

"Hm?" Su Tianxin frowned, puzzled.

A black-robed disciple hurriedly approached and reported, "Your Majesty, something's wrong. Xiao Nanfeng's avatar has reached Dachi's capital. He somehow bypassed the city's defensive formations and is rampaging through the imperial palace with his ten golden crows!"

The black-robed cultivators turned to Xiao Nanfeng in shock. He had outmaneuvered them entirely.

"How did you know about our plan?" Su Tianxin demanded angrily.

He was here to attack Yongding; Xiao Nanfeng's avatar had gone to attack Dachi's capital. They seemed, strangely enough, to have synchronized.

Xiao Nanfeng ignored him in favor of addressing his people. "Citizens of Dazheng, this is Xiao Nanfeng, your emperor! The Immortal Emperor of Dachi has come to raid us. I ask that you raise your right hand and lend me your strength to take him down!"

A mighty draconic roar resounded as Xiao Nanfeng's voice carried across the empire.

People everywhere responded, raising their hands to channel their energy toward him. Streams of white light converged into Yongding's sea of fortune overhead.

"Quick—kill Xiao Nanfeng, now!" Su Tianxin shouted.

As he unleashed a fiery palm strike toward the city's defensive formations, a brilliant sword technique, gleaming in purple, shot into the air.

"Yuqing Swords, slash!"

Xia Yu'er's voice rang out as her sword technique clashed with Su Tianxin's attack.

The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the city's defenses.

"The fourth stage of the Boundless Immortal realm? Impossible! Wasn't Xia Yu'er still a Golden Immortal?!" Su Tianxin exclaimed.

"Just how did she manage to break through so quickly?!" Hu Tianlong gasped.

Meanwhile, the sea of fortune brimmed with the combined power of Dazheng's citizens. With a draconic roar, all that power surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"Don't hesitate. Attack now!" Su Tianxin shouted.

"Break!" his black-robed subordinates cried out, launching a simultaneous attack on the city's defensive formations.

Yu'er sent another barrage of swords into the air. Her strength was formidable, but she still fell short. With a resounding crash, Su Tianxin shattered her technique.

Terrifying shockwaves rippled through the entire city, but countless smaller formations protected the citizens within.

Meanwhile, a vast sea of fortune surged into Xiao Nanfeng's body. His entire being trembled as his power swelled. With a thunderous roar, he gave off an overwhelming aura.

Xiao Nanfeng's strength reached its peak as he soared into the sky to confront the group of powerful enemies alongside Yu'er.

He unleashed a Hegemon's Fist. A deluge of fists, resembling a tsunami, shot upward. His fists struck the group of enemies with a resounding explosion and ignited a storm in the void.

"Is this the extent of Xiao Nanfeng's strength even after invoking his imperial might?" Hu Tianlong sneered. "He's barely as strong as Xia Yu'er."

The other black-robed figures nodded in relief.

Suddenly, however, one of them shouted to Su Tianxin, "Your Majesty, something's wrong! Xiao Nanfeng's avatar has broken through the formations around the imperial palace. He's at the imperial court now! Xia Xingchen is assisting him—we can't stop them!"

Su Tianxin panicked. He immediately said, "Junior Brother, I have to return now. I'll leave things here to you."

"What? Are you crazy? We'll win if we just take down Yongding now!" Hu Tianlong exclaimed.

"Neither Xiao Nanfeng nor Xia Yu'er are a match for you, and your subordinates are all here. I'll leave my subordinates to assist you as well. Your victory is all but guaranteed. You'll be able to win even without me—there's something particularly important at Dachi's capital that I have to protect. I'll leave things to you, then!" Su Tianxin shouted.

Then, he vanished across the horizon.

Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow upon seeing Su Tianxin's hasty departure. He considered Su Tianxin's priorities thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, though Hu Tianlong was momentarily taken aback, he quickly rallied. He had probed Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu'er's strength, and everything was under control. He took a deep breath and commanded, "Kill Xiao Nanfeng."

"Kill him!" his black-robed subordinates chorused.

"Die!" Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er shouted, charging forward.

The two sides began to clash in the skies above Yongding as a tempest bloomed.

Far in the distance, Su Tianxin circled back, cloaking himself in fog. This time, rather than engage directly, he hid in the shadows and waited for an opportune moment to strike. A cold smile appeared on his lips.