Chapter 942: The Dust Settles

Once all the pure yang energy was absorbed into the eight pure yang pillars, Blue Lantern stepped forward and disassembled the formation.

"Your Majesty, please take these pure yang pillars," Blue Lantern said, handing the eight pillars to Xiao Nanfeng.

"Very well." Xiao Nanfeng accepted them without hesitation.

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the Realm of the Nine Heavens as they returned to the world of the mirror.

However, the reflective surface of the mirror, which led to the outside world, had developed countless cracks. The black fog of heart force was leaking uncontrollably out into the world at large.

"The cursed mirror has shattered," Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed in surprise.

Blue Lantern quickly examined the mirror, then considered the formation where Su Tianxin's corpse was located. He quickly understood what was going on.

"Your Majesty, I believe my sect's founder is responsible for this."

"Oh? Your sect's founder?"

"He stored a vast reservoir of heart force within this cursed mirror for tens of thousands of years. Worried that the cursed effigy would eventually revive and steal it all for itself, he set up a formation to bind its cursed soul, as well as a contingency to shatter the mirror once the cursed effigy escaped or perished. The resulting heart force would dissipate to prevent it from being used by evil forces," Blue Lantern explained.

"Your founder was thorough. This would certainly ensure that the heart force couldn't be exploited by the cursed effigy and spare future generations from harm," Xiao Nanfeng remarked approvingly.

Blue Lantern nodded.

"Do you have a treasure for collecting this heart force?" Xiao NAnfeng asked.

Blue Lantern shook his head. "If I had fully attuned to all eight bronze compasses, I would be able to accomplish such a feat, but I can't refine the five new compasses quickly enough. For now, I can only use the Formation of the Mirrored Heart to temporarily contain the heart force. If you can absorb it, Your Majesty, I will ensure that no heart force is lost from the outside."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Blue Lantern bowed and stepped out of the world of the mirror to begin his preparations.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng switched to his physical body and stimulated the golden sapling in his mind, which emitted a radiant golden light. A massive vortex formed around him and greedily drew in the heart force from his surroundings.

Outside the world of the mirror, Blue Lantern emerged just in time to hear Blue Jade panic. "Senior Brother, there's too much heart force leaking from the mirror! I can't control it!"

"Leave it to me."

With a wave of his hand, Blue Lantern regained control of the Formation of the Mirrored Heart. Numerous mirror images manifested around him, each resembling a different cultivator. Their numbers were staggering. They surged toward Dazheng's army in the distance.

"Return to the mirror!" Blue Lantern commanded.

The mirror images rushed back into the mirror, but the black fog of heart force continued to spread. New mirror images were created as the fog billowed.

"Sir Ye, I'll need your assistance," Blue Lantern called out.

"Of course." Ye Sanshui agreed without any hesitation.

Under Blue Lantern's control, the mirror images resolved into Ye Sanshui's form. Since Ye Sanshui boasted tremendous strength, these figures required a significant amount of heart force to create. Eight were created in all.

They snarled and charged toward Ye Sanshui, who frowned and defended himself.

"Return to the mirror!" Blue Lantern ordered.

The eight mirror images retreated into the mirror, but heart force continued to leak out from within.

Blue Lantern couldn't prevent the heart force from leaking out of the mirror, but he could direct the mirror images back in. He repeated this process again and again as Xiao Nanfeng absorbed the heart force from the world of the mirror.

As the heart force continued to flow into his body, the golden sapling in his heart grew taller and thicker. Its branches spread far and wide. Countless leaves sprouted, while its trunk turned thick and robust. As the sapling grew, a soothing golden light bathed Xiao Nanfeng, clearing his mind and granting him mental acuity—just like when the superior yin pearl had helped him comprehend scriptures with heart force, but even more strongly.

"This golden sapling can aid in enlightenment?" Xiao Nanfeng marveled.

For an entire day, Xiao Nanfeng sat in meditation. With Blue Lantern's help, he was able to absorb all the heart force.

The golden sapling now resembled a small tree, one that stood over three meters tall. It possessed extraordinary vitality, despite the fact that it was still in a premature stage.

The golden light from the tree no longer seeped out of his body but rather illuminated his heart, creating a domain of sanctuary and clarity within. Inside this domain, Xiao Nanfeng's comprehension of natural law seemed to be enhanced dramatically.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head, suppressing the urge to immerse himself in this newfound clarity immediately. Rather, he retrieved the eight pure yang pillars.

He had acquired one pillar from his fight against Hu Tianlong, but had refrained from absorbing the pure yang energy within it because it would have been insufficient for a breakthrough. He had saved it until now.

None of the eight pure yang pillars had all that much energy on their own, but their combined reserves were staggering.

He opened his mouth and swallowed all eight pillars, directing them into his dantian, where his ten golden crows rapidly began to absorb the pure yang energy.

A surge of intense yang energy coursed through his body, advancing his cultivation.

With his Realm of the Nine Heavens, he was hardly lacking in insight and intuition. All he needed to advance his cultivation was energy.

After meditating for the majority of the next day, just as he consumed all the pure yang energy within the pillars, he reached a new threshold.

An immense aura erupted from Xiao Nanfeng's body as he opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

"The eighth stage of the Golden Immortal realm... It's unfortunate that I've used up all the energy from these pure yang pillars."

He stood up and spat out the eight pillars, now entirely drained of energy.

Cracks had propagated across the surface of the mirror. He finished cleaning up what remained of the mirror world, then stepped outside.

The Formation of the Mirrored Heart was still in place. Thick fog surrounded the region, though there were no more mirror images in sight.

"Blue Lantern, I intend for these pure yang pillars to be safeguarded by the imperial astronomer. They will be yours for the time being," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Blue Lantern accepted the pillars with a bow. "Understood!"

"Will this cursed mirror be useful for you?"

Blue Lantern shook his head. "Without any heart force, the mirror is useless, especially given its current condition. I leave its disposal to you, Your Majesty."

"Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stored the fractured mirror.

Blue Lantern dispelled the formation, causing the surrounding fog to dissipate rapidly.

Outside, countless civilians were eagerly awaiting Xiao Nanfeng's return. They erupted into cheers upon seeing him emerge.

"Thank you for saving us, Your Majesty!"

"Long live His Majesty!

"Your Majesty, we're proud to be citizens of Dazheng!"

Countless people called out in gratitude.

Su Tianxin had nearly annihilated Tianyue. Without Xiao Nanfeng's intervention, all of them would surely have perished.

Though Xiao Nanfeng had won, it had taken concerted effort over multiple days. Everyone understood what he had sacrificed to do so.

How could they not adore and revere an emperor who was willing to do so much for his people?

Xiao Nanfeng nodded in acknowledgment. "Officials of Tianyue, hear me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the city's officials responded in unison.

"Document all damages to the city. Aid the wounded and afflicted. Record the contributions of all who acted in the city's defense, including soldiers and civilians alike. Their deeds shall be rewarded. Honor fallen heroes with generous compensation to ensure that their families do not suffer. Your performance during this tribulation will be considered in your evaluations."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the people of Tianyue shouted in gratitude.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded again, then departed with his entourage.

The crowd watched him go, their hearts filled with admiration for the benevolent ruler who had risked everything to protect them.

News of what transpired in Tianyue spread rapidly across the land, reaching not just Dazheng, but also Dachi. The world was filled with praise of Xiao Nanfeng's ethical and righteous behavior—and criticism of Su Tianxin's.

In an Immortal city of Dachi, members of a prominent clan were abuzz in discussion.

"Clan Head, my avatar was in Tianyue. Su Tianxin is truly a heartless demon! To lure Xiao Nanfeng into his trap, he was willing to slaughter an entire city of innocents. We're nothing but ants to him," one elder said.

"Even his own daughter betrayed him. A man that cold-blooded isn't worth following," another added.

"My avatar heard Su Qingchan herself accuse Su Tianxin of forcing her to seduce the Saint. An Immortal Emperor stooping to such depravity, even involving his own daughter—it's beyond monstrous!"

"Xiao Nanfeng's proclamation was right. Su Tianxin is nothing but a pawn of the saints. Even his daughter confirmed it. Why should we continue to follow someone who would kill us without hesitation?"

"Dazheng's Ministry of Rites sent a delegation to visit us. Xiao Nanfeng is virtuous and just. How could Su Tianxin ever compare to him?"

The elders' impassioned arguments caused the entire clan to reach a consensus.

"In that case, I am willing to lead the clan in pledging allegiance to Dazheng. Are you all in agreement?" the clan head asked.

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

All the elders spoke up at once.

"Does anyone object?" the clan head continued.

Silence filled the hall.

"Then it's settled. We shall formally align our family with Dazheng. Summon the envoy from the Ministry of Rites. Let's discuss how to transfer this city to Dazheng's rule," the clan head declared.

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.