Chapter 927: Yu Fuli's True Revival

Within the Sieve of Heaven, the furious ocean raged. Three colossal bronze compasses floated on top of the ocean, radiating waves of blue light and a flurry of swords.

Shi Tianbei lay suppressed deep beneath the ocean, but his resistance caused monstrous waves to churn and storms to rage in all directions. The aftershocks alone forced Xiao Nanfeng, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan to retreat time and again as they were battered by wind and water alike.

The battlefield was utter chaos. Su Tianxin's eyes flashed with murderous intent. Abandoning any thought of self-preservation, he stepped forward and headed deep into the storm.

"Father, what are you doing?" Su Qingchan exclaimed in shock.

"The storm just now separated us from Xiao Nanfeng. I'm going to seize this chance to kill him," Su Tianxin replied.

Su Tianxin ignored his daughter and rushed into the heart of the storm.

He could sense Xiao Nanfeng's presence nearby.

With a forceful strike, Su Tianxin shot forward, only to discover that Xiao Nanfeng had vanished.

"He's gone? Impossible. He must still be nearby," Su Tianxin muttered, scanning his surroundings.

By then, however, Xiao Nanfeng was already far from the scene. He wasn't particularly good at hiding; a portal had opened up beside him, and he had stepped through.

Xiao Nanfeng left the purple moon illusory realm and returned to reality.

Outside the portal was a group of white-robed cultivators, shrouding themselves in fog so that they could blend into the clouds.

Xiao Nanfeng saw Xia Xingchen standing nearby and knew that he had him to thank for opening up the portal.

"Thank you, Mountain Lord Xia. I might have been in trouble if you hadn't intervened," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.

"I received word from your avatar. If I hadn't done so, my senior sister would have. What's the situation like inside?"

Xiao Nanfeng recounted everything that had transpired, leaving the cultivators amazed.

"Did it work?" Xia Xingchen exclaimed in excitement.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "It's very likely that Shi Tianbei's done for."

"Thank goodness." The cultivators relaxed.

"Come on, let's head back to the Eastern Heavenly Gate," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The cultivators nodded and followed Xiao Nanfeng there.

Yu'er asked in worry, "Nanfeng, not only is Su Tianxin targeting you, the Void Saint might also do the same. It'll be dangerous if you head in again. Why don't we just strike now? Sister Liu suggested doing the same."

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Besides, I have to go back. I don't want to destroy my relationship with the Void Saint just yet. It's possible that I may be able to continue deceiving him. Right now, timing is critical. I'll keep you informed, so be ready to make a move as well."

Yu'er seemed like she wanted to protest, but she reluctantly nodded upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng's determined attitude.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Xia Xingchen once again opened a portal into the purple moon illusory realm, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to step in.

Back at the Eastern Heavenly Gate, massive blue waves roared.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't rush in immediately. He waited for the waves to abate before he finally entered.

As he did so, he heard Su Tianxin's voice ring out in the distance, "Saint, Xiao Nanfeng has run away! He must have been lying to you earlier!"

The blue ocean swiftly retreated to reveal Shi Tianbei lying in a pool of blood, his limbs severed and his body mangled. He was barely clinging to life.

The Void Saint hovered in mid-air above him, while Su Qingchan stood nearby with three bronze compasses. Su Tianxin was busy tattling to the Void Saint about Xiao Nanfeng.

The Void Saint replied coldly, "Isn't Xiao Nanfeng standing right there?"

Su Tianxin turned to see Xiao Nanfeng approaching, his expression grim.

Xiao Nanfneg ignored the stunned Su Tianxin and directed his attention to the gravely injured Shi Tianbei, his face filled with concern.

"Void Saint, I think you should show some clemency. You may receive some in return," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"What are you talking about?" The Void Saint glared at Xiao Nanfeng.

"Spare Shi Tianbei's life," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Ha! Don't you have a grudge against him? Why are you suddenly trying to protect him?" The Void Saint smirked.

Xiao Nanfeng grew tense. "You figured out that I was lying earlier?"

"What do you think?" the Void Saint replied coldly.

After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Nanfeng admitted, "Fine. I admit I didn't want you to kill Shi Tianbei earlier. Since you've seen through my deception, there's no point in hiding it anymore. Let me ask you this: Do you really think that killing Shi Tianbei will prevent the Heavenly Emperor from returning?"

"You're still claiming that Yu Fuli has resurrected?" The Void Saint snorted.

"Why else would you target Shi Tianbei? If you truly don't believe that Yu Fuli has resurrected, why bother?"

"Does it matter?" the Void Saint replied disdainfully.

Xiao Nanfeng's gaze hardened. "I see. You don't know whether the Heavenly Emperor has revived yourself. You're just trying to eliminate any possibility."

"As you say."

"But even if you destroy Shi Tianbei and annihilate the Heavenly Emperor's power within him, can you guarantee that Yu Fuli won't revive via some other means?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

The Void Saint narrowed his eyes.

“I admit I’m trying to protect Shi Tianbei for the sake of the Heavenly Emperor. But the truth is, Yu Fuli might not even need my help to return. And if he does, wouldn’t he hold a grudge against you for completely obliterating Shi Tianbei? By breaking his ties to this world, you’re ensuring he’ll see you as his mortal enemy. Wouldn’t it be wiser to leave some room for reconciliation?” Xiao Nanfeng argued.

The Void Saint hesitated briefly, then shook his head firmly. “Xiao Nanfeng, you’re still playing games with me. Do you think you can trick me into believing Yu Fuli has returned?”

"Hasn't he?"

"I don't believe you. I'm killing Shi Tianbei only as a precaution. Since I've made up my mind, I won't change it. Dream on. I will be extinguishing all traces of Shi Tianbei from this world."

"But—" Xiao Nanfeng was about to continue when the Void Saint broke him off. "No buts. Once I finish off Shi Tianbei, I'll deal with you. How dare you scheme against me? Do you think I'm some sort of plaything you can toy with?"

"The Heavenly Emperor really has revived," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized again.

"Even if that's the case, I'll kill him," the Void Saint replied coldly.

Suddenly, Su Qingchan cried out. "Ah!"

"Who's making a fuss?" The Void Saint frowned.

"L-Look over there! Who's that? It's..." Su Qingchan pointed at the peak of Mt. Kunlun, her face pale.

Everyone else glanced up. At the top of the mountain was a man dressed in purple robes, his features severe. He was glancing coldly at the cultivators at the foot of the mountain.

Su Tianxin and the Void Saint reared back in shock.

"Y-Yu Fuli?!" the Void Saint exclaimed.

"The Heavenly Emperor?" Su Tianxin murmured.

"Xiao Nanfeng wasn't lying? The Heavenly Emperor really did revive?!" Su Qingchan shouted.

Even Xiao Nanfeng was stunned. What sort of situation was this? Could this really be Yu Fuli?

He had prepared various plans to deceive the Void Saint, including having someone impersonate Yu Fuli to scare him—but where had this Yu Fuli come from?

This wasn't the calm and benevolent Yu Fuli of the past—it was someone colder and more terrifying.

How had Yu Fuli revived?

Then, Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. He murmured to himself, "This isn't Yu Fuli. It's the Yuqing Grandmaster..."

The Void Saint, on the other hand, was shaken. His voice trembled as he demanded, "Xiao Nanfeng, is this a trick?!"

The Void Saint shook his head. He had had enough of skulking about in the shadows. How could Yu Fuli truly have revived?

"This is not a trick. I don't know what's going on myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Xiao Nanfeng bowed toward the peak of Mt. Kunlun. "I greet the Heavenly Emperor."

The Void Saint's entire body tensed. His instincts screamed at him to flee.

"It's a trick! It has to be fake. I won't be fooled!" the Void Saint shouted, summoning a massive blue ocean full of skeletons and sending it toward the figure up on the mountain.

This was a test. How the figure responded would determine his attitude. He glanced intently at how "Yu Fuli" would respond.

At the peak of Mt. Kunlun, the Yuqing Grandmaster narrowed his eyes. He pinched at the void, causing it to fill with countless runes. From the heart of the runes came a giant white sword that slashed at the blue ocean.

"A heart sword? Impossible!" the Void Saint shouted.

These heart swords were Yu Fuli's signature technique. There was no mistaking it.

The heart sword effortlessly cleaved through the blue ocean, reducing the skeletons within to ash. The ocean itself split apart before vanishing entirely.

The heart sword hurtled toward the Void Saint, whose eyes widened in shock.

"No!" he cried out.

He hastily invoked his powers over heavenly law to block it.

The clash shook the heavens. Flames erupted, forcing everyone to retreat.

The Void Saint ultimately managed to block the heart sword, suffering nothing more than superficial wounds in the process, but his heart sank. He was now certain that the man before him was none other than Yu Fuli.

How could Yu Fuli have revived? He was right before the Void Saint, and seemingly intent on killing him! The Void Saint shuddered and tensed.