Chapter 929: 90,000 Years of Fortune

Cold air emanated from Yu'er as an immense quantity of spiritual energy surged toward her from all directions. All the yin energy flowed into her body while the yang energy encircled the area, as if she were a massive formation for gathering spiritual aether.

Xiao Nanfeng approached and called out to Yu'er for some time, but she remained motionless. If not for her powerful aura, he might have forcibly broken through the ice encasing her.

"Don't worry, Nanfeng," Yang Xingyan reassured him. "We'll protect Yu'er. She'll be fine."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. At present, the Yuqing holy land was being led by a coalition of its most powerful figures: Yang Xingyan, Xia Xingchen, Yang Chuan, and the three remaining Mountain Lords. The Yuqing Grandmaster had retreated into meditation atop Mt. Kunlun.

With these three cultivators guarding Yu'er, her safety was all but assured.

"Very well. When you recall the Yuqing disciples, please leave some with avatars in the outside world to keep me informed if anything happens," Xiao Nanfeng requested.

"Understood!" Everyone nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng approached the frozen Yu'er one final time and whispered a few words to her, though whether or not she could hear him remained to be seen.

As for Shi Tianbei, he was moments from death. Yang Xingyan showed no mercy, tormenting him for some time before finally ending his life.

Unfortunately, Shi Tianbei's storage treasure had been taken by the Void Saint, leaving them with nothing of value.

Yang Xingyan and Xia Xingchen remained behind to protect Yu'er, while Xiao Nanfeng and Yang Chuan left the purple moon illusory realm.

As soon as they emerged, a group of white-robed individuals surrounded them—Xiao Nanfeng's trusted subordinates, who had been informed of everything via his avatar.

Two of the white-robed individuals unhooded themselves and revealed their faces. The Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin glanced at Xiao Nanfeng in worry.

"Don't worry. The danger has passed. There's no need to waste your charms of heavenly law on the region," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.

"Who cares about the charms? Don't you know what danger you were in? You should have told me about all this in advance!" the Divine Emperor chided, her tone a mixture of reproach and deep concern.

Xiao Nanfeng took her hand and smiled. "It's fine now. The immediate danger has passed. The situation was urgent, so I couldn't inform you beforehand."

Only then did the Divine Emperor relax and nod in relief.

"You should return for now. I'll come to you in a few days' time," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"Alright," the Divine Emperor replied gently. She glanced at him with lingering concern, then at Liu Miaoyin, before vanishing into the fog.

Liu Miaoyin smiled. "We really were fortunate."

"Truly. The Yuqing Grandmaster's appearance was a great help," Xiao Nanfeng agreed. "I'm sorry for bothering you so. Dazheng has encountered calamity after calamity lately, it seems."

Liu Miaoyin shook her head and smiled warmly. "It's nothing. You must have lots of work to do, so I won't keep you. I'll head back now."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well."

Liu Miaoyin turned and flew toward Dajing's capital, while Xiao Nanfeng gathered his subordinates and returned to Yongding with them.

Back in Dachi's capital, the Void Saint, Su Tianxin, and Su Qingchan had returned. They gathered in a grand hall.

"I can't shake the feeling that something's off. Think it over—what seemed strange today?" the Void Saint asked.

Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan furrowed their brows in thought.

"Could the Heavenly Emperor have been a fake?" Su Qingchan ventured.

"Do you think I'm blind? How could he have been a fake? Neither could his heart sword," the Void Saint replied, shaking his head.

"Was that really Yu Fuli? Why didn't he pursue us?" Su Qingchan frowned.

Su Tianxin speculated, "Perhaps it was because you had Xiao Nanfeng as a hostage, Saint."

The Void Saint shook his head. "No. If the Heavenly Emperor had wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have hesitated regardless of what I did."

"Maybe it's as Xiao Nanfeng said—he was in a weakened state and didn't have the strength to finish you off," Su Qingchan suggested.

The Void Saint nodded seriously. "That must be it."

He reflected on his earlier panic and concluded that the Heavenly Emperor had to have been severely weakened. Even so, if he were given the chance to redo the encounter, he would still have fled without hesitation.

"Enough. I'll continue investigating matters related to the Heavenly Emperor. For now, I've acquired two bronze compasses. I need to uncover Tang's secret as soon as possible," the Void Saint said.

"Saint, I would be happy to assist you with the bronze compasses," Su Tianxin volunteered.

The Void Saint frowned. "Qingchan also understands formations. She can attune to the compasses easily as well."

Su Tianxin frowned and shot a glare at his daughter.

"Saint, my father's expertise in formations far surpasses mine. The results will be better if he attunes to the bronze compasses."

Su Tianxin exhaled and turned toward the Void Saint expectantly.

"Why are you both acting like this? I'm only lending you the bronze compasses temporarily. It doesn't matter which of you attunes to the bronze compasses. You can do it if you want, Su Tianxin."

Su Tianxin's heart sank. He didn't want to have to attune to the bronze compasses just to return them later.

"Saint, my daughter and I actually have about the same level of skill. Why not have each of us refine one? It'll be faster," Su Tianxin quickly suggested.

He reasoned that, since Su Qingchan was the Void Saint's lover, the saint might not reclaim her compass later.

Su Qingchan naturally guessed her father's intent. She bit her lip and kept her head down without objecting.

"Fine. Do it quickly," the Void Saint said impatiently.

"Very well!"

The Void Saint handed over the two bronze compasses, and the two cultivators began attuning to them immediately. Meanwhile, he left with Tang.

After all, Yu Fuli's revival remained a terrifying threat to him. Wary of exposing his whereabouts, he decided to lay low for a while Within the palace at Yongding, in a grand hall, Xiao Nanfeng opened a portal to the purple moon illusory realm once more.

"Senior Aunt, Seniors, please travel safely," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Yu'er's three mothers nodded in acknowledgment.

"Don't worry. If anything happens with Yu'er, I'll ensure you're informed," Han Bingdie promised.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Accompanied by their guards, the three women entered the purple moon illusory realm. Xiao Nanfeng sealed the portal and turned to Blue Lantern.

"Blue Lantern, attune to this third bronze compass as quickly as you can."

Blue Lantern accepted the compass, a grateful expression on his face. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Given the impending battle, the number of bronze compasses in my possession may decide the outcome of my clash against Su Tianxin and Su Qingchen. I also have a gift for you, Your Majesty."

"Hm?"

"Within these bronze compasses is sealed a void formation that holds vast fortune, accumulated from 90,000 years ago. In principle, all eight bronze compasses are required to unlock it, but my unique constitution allows me to extract it with just three," Blue Lantern explained.

"Vast fortune from 90,000 years ago?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The founder of the sect sacrificed everything to acquire the bronze compasses from the world away, but managed to amass vast reserves of fortune between the sacrifice and the subsequent descent of the heavens. I don't know just how much fortune there is, but the records of my sect state that this fortune was sealed in the compasses for future generations to draw upon."

"How do you know that three bronze compasses will be sufficient?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Years ago, before being expelled from my sect, I had the opportunity to attempt it once by chance and succeeded. I've told no one until now."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I will await the fortune."

He did desperately need a reserve of fortune at the moment.

"At once, Your Majesty. I will inform you when I've attuned to the third bronze compass."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Go."

Then, Xiao Nanfeng's avatar remained in Yongding to oversee affairs, while his main body traveled to Shenfeng's capital so he could spend some time with the Divine Emperor.

Half a month later, within a grand hall, Blue Lantern had since attuned to the third bronze compass. He suspended all three compasses in mid-air, releasing a flood of blue light with a single gesture. The next moment, his body began to tremble and transform into five blue runes. The five runes and three compasses formed a cohesive whole, which hummed and expanded until it was ten times its original size. A burst of golden light shot up from the heart of the compass.

"All this fortune is to be bestowed upon the emperor of Dazheng, Xiao Nanfeng," Blue Lantern commanded.

A torrent of fortune surged forth and rushed toward Xiao Nanfeng, who absorbed it with his divine seal.

Vast torrents of fortune shot into the Divine Seal of Dazheng, causing Xiao Nanfeng's eyes to light up in wonder. It was so vast that it exceeded the quantity stockpiled in the Imperial Court's treasury years ago.

The transfer of fortune lasted half a day. By then, the Divine Seal of Dazheng was emitting a radiant golden light. It was dazzling beyond measure.

Meanwhile, the enormous compass vibrated before reverting to its original form: three smaller bronze compasses and Blue Lantern's physical body. Blue Lantern retrieved the compasses, then smiled. "I have fulfilled my task, Your Majesty."

"What an incredible supply of fortune," Xiao Nanfeng murmured. "Blue Lantern, I can't thank you enough."

"There's no need to thank me, Your Majesty."

"No, I truly appreciate it. This fortune will enable a significant breakthrough on my part," Xiao Nanfeng said earnestly.

"Then I wish you a swift and successful breakthrough, Your Majesty." Blue Lantern bowed and retreated from the hall.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

After Blue Lantern departed, Xiao Nanfeng adjusted the formation within the hall, ensuring that it was secure. Then, he sat cross-legged in meditation, preparing to absorb and utilize the massive influx of fortune.