Chapter 945: Troops Arrive at Dachi

Chu Tianban glanced coldly at Xiao Nanfeng. "And if we insist on interfering in your war?"

Although he had been courteous to Xiao Nanfeng before, it was only to help Crown Prince Banruo recruit a subordinate. He didn't actually think highly of Xiao Nanfeng.

To him, Crown Prince Banruo was the foremost figure of the era, and clearly destined to become the new Heavenly Emperor. Xiao Nanfeng's disrespect toward the crown prince might as well have been a death wish.

"You're welcome to try," Xiao Nanfeng replied calmly.

"To try? Xiao Nanfeng, once we make a move, you'll be done for. You won't have an opportunity to regret your actions," Chu Tianban said coldly.

Xiao Nanfeng scanned the group. "If you insist on stopping me, I'll give you the chance to do so now. Considering that Yu Banruo is the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor, I'll even grant you some dignity by allowing you to send farewells to your families."

"What did you just say?" Chu Tianban stared at Xiao Nanfeng, stunned.

He hadn't expected Xiao Nanfeng to be so brazen.

His expression turned icy. The group of followers behind him glared angrily at Xiao Nanfeng.

"Well? Aren't you going to accept my offer? Very well. Let's go. The Spirit Emperor's hidden realm is right here, and we can settle things within. If you can't kill me today, I'll kill all of you instead. Consider it a warning to Crown Prince Banruo and a reminder that those who act against the world deserve to die," Xiao Nanfeng said coldly.

"Very well. I'll test your skills myself," Chu Tianban said coldly.

Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a token, waved his hand, and opened a portal to the void. Within was the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm.

Xiao Nanfeng was just about to lead the group into the portal when he noticed a figure standing at its entrance.

"Senior Miaoyin, what brings you here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.

Somehow, Liu Miaoyin had arrived ahead of time at the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm and was seemingly waiting for them.

"I recently woke from secluded cultivation and heard about the battle at Tianyue. I asked around and learned about the situation in Dazheng. In the past, when I established the empire of Dajing, you helped guard me. Now that Dazheng is ascending to a divine empire, it's only fitting for me to return the favor. These minor obstacles don't require your personal attention. Let me handle them—it's no big deal," Liu Miaoyin said with a smile.

Chu Tianban froze.

He was well aware of who Liu Miaoyin was. Setting aside her position as the Immortal Emperor of Dajing, she had once been personally received by Yu Fuli before his battle against the heavens. Moreover, she had been regarded as the most powerful individual of her time—the hegemon of her era. How could he fight against someone like her?

"Immortal Emperor Liu, this is a personal matter between Xiao Nanfeng and us. I hope you won't intervene," Chu Tianban said seriously.

Liu Miaoyin ignored Chu Tianban and asked Xiao Nanfeng, "Shall I handle this for you? I'd like to do something for you. Otherwise, it would make me feel uneasy."

Xiao Nanfeng hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. "Alright, but let me ask them first."

Liu Miaoyin smiled charmingly.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Chu Tianban. "It seems I won't be able to make a move. Would you prefer to die at Senior Miaoyin's hands?"

Chu Tianban: ...

Chu Tianban's group: ...

"If you're willing, follow me into the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm. This is, after all, my palace. I'd rather not have you breaking my things," Xiao Nanfeng said. He beckoned to them in clear invitation.

Everyone: ...

Wasn't Xiao Nanfeng cheating? How were they supposed to handle a hegemon?

They were confident that they could take on Xiao Nanfeng, but not Liu Miaoyin. Though she didn't seem particularly strong, she was a Boundless Immortal cursed king. There had to be more to her than met the eye.

"Eastern Aspect Xiao, let's leave it at that for now," Chu Tianban gritted out.

He had no desire to fight someone like Liu Miaoyin.

"Why not give it a try? At the very least, you'd be probing my strength for Crown Prince Banruo. By dying, you would provide him with valuable intelligence. Isn't that what you should be doing if you're truly loyal to him?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.

The cultivators scowled. What kind of twisted logic was this?

"Farewell!" Chu Tianban said without hesitation.

He and his entourage shot into the sky and disappeared in an instant.

"They're nothing but a group of cowards," Liu Miaoyin said disdainfully.

"Bullying the weak and fearing the strong—it's human nature," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.

Liu Miaoyin stepped out of the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm, and Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the portal.

"I heard from your men that this Crown Prince Banruo might be a cursed king reborn. How did he end up as Yu Fuli's son?" Liu Miaoyin asked curiously.

"I'm not sure, but it's clear that they must have clashed before, and the Heavenly Emperor came out on top. But I wonder why he was willing to take on the mantle of crown prince... Perhaps he's seeking something from Yu Fuli," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Indeed. Yu Fuli was able to slay the heavens, while Crown Prince Banruo was slain by them. There's a wide gap between them." Liu Miaoyin smiled.

"Why did you leave secluded cultivation early?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"I hit a bottleneck."

"But you're just trying to regain your former cultivation, aren't you? How could you have experienced a bottleneck?"

"I've been thinking about Yu Fuli's advice of abandoning minor loves in favor of major loves. In the past, my tranquil heart allowed my cultivation to progress smoothly—but ripples are what I need to make further breakthroughs. Even if I regain my old strength, I would only have reached my limits without further room for growth. I've decided not to rush. I want to find something that stimulates me instead."

"You intend to choose a different path than before?"

Liu Miaoyin nodded. "The cultivation of the heart is mysterious. I'm not sure how to proceed just yet, but I know that I have to avoid repeating my past mistakes."

"In that case, if you have no other plans in mind, would you guard me?" Xiao Nanfeng requested.

"That's exactly what I had in mind," Liu Miaoyin said with a smile.

Chu Tianban's group left Yongding, their faces dark.

"Liu Miaoyin really is insane. Why is she helping Xiao Nanfeng out?" one cultivator cried out in frustration.

"We need to report this to the crown prince immediately," Chu Tianban said.

The rest of them agreed. One of their avatars reported the matter to the crown prince immediately.

Before long, the cultivator relayed, "Crown Prince Banruo said that he's trying to suppress a cursed king and cannot show himself just yet. Since Liu Miaoyin is guarding Xiao Nanfeng, then we won't make a move. As for Dachi, it's hardly significant in the grand scheme of things."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Three days later, in Dachi's imperial study, an official reported, "Your Majesty, Dazheng's army is continuing to seize our Immortal cities. Your proclamation has been ineffective. We're losing more than ten cities a day. With half our territory gone, morale in the remaining cities is plummeting."

Su Tianxin grimaced. "How dare Xiao Nanfeng do this to me?!"

"Your Majesty, what do we d o?" the official fretted.

"Leave me alone for the moment," Su Tianxin said.

Though confused, the officials complied and departed.

Su Tianxin immediately sent for his subordinates. "Have you made contact with Northern Aspect Chu, as I requested?"

"No. We can't contact him at all, Your Majesty," one of them reported.

"And Crown Prince Banruo's other subordinates? Have you contacted anyone else to ask why Xiao Nanfeng's forces remain unchecked?" Su Tianxin demanded.

"We can't reach any of them."

Su Tianxin's heart skipped a beat. He felt a chill, a growing sense of dread. He suspected that Crown Prince Banruo had abandoned him.

"You may go," Su Tianxin said.

"Understood!"

After everyone left the study, Su Tianxin could no longer suppress his anger. With a loud bang, he overturned his desk, scattering brushes, ink, and paper.

"Crown Prince Banruo, I even severed ties with the saint for you. I doubled my pledge, nearly emptying all my empire's resources to do so. How could you abandon me? Did Xiao Nanfeng agree to join you? How can you renege on your word? How can you betray my trust like this and still hope to become the Heavenly Emperor?" Su Tianxin roared, his voice full of rage.

Yet no one could understand his anguish.

He felt utterly abandoned. The saint no longer supported him, Crown Prince Pannuo had forsaken him, his daughter had betrayed him, countless officials in Dachi had deserted him, and he had lost his bronze compasses. It was as though the whole world had turned against him.

"No! I am Su Tianxin, a veritable genius!" Su Tianxin shouted furiously. "No one will be able to defeat me!"

The study echoed with the sound of furniture and objects being smashed.

Though Su Tianxin had publicly declared his allegiance to Crown Prince Banro, but there was no response from the crown prince or his subordinates. This only deepened the belief among the people and officials of Dachi that Su Tianxin was lying. They increasingly believed he was a pawn of the heavens.

With half of Dachi's territory lost, the remaining half became even more vulnerable.

Under the efforts of Dazheng's Ministry of Rites, which actively sought to turn the populace against the dynasty, many cities surrendered without a fight. In many cases, by the time its army arrived at an Immortal city, the local aristocratic clans had already subdued any internal resistance and opened the gates to welcome the imperial forces.

Dachi crumbled like a house of cards.

Almost all of its three hundred Immortal cities had been lost within a month. It wouldn't even have taken the whole month if Dazheng hadn't deliberately slowed down in order to digest its gains.

Dazheng's army continued to advance and eventually encircled Dachi's capital.

By then, the capital had descended into chaos. The sea of fortune in the sky had dissipated, and the populace was fleeing in all directions.

Even the garrison stationed at Dachi's capital had fled, leaving only a small group of Su Tianxin's loyalists guarding the imperial palace.

In the now-diminished imperial court, Su Tianxin sat on his draconic throne in golden robes, an imperial crown on his head. The once-thriving court was naught but a shadow of its former self, with only a handful of officials present.

Su Tianxin, who had been restless over the past few days, seemed to have become eerily calm. His expression betrayed no emotion save a deep, cold indifference.

Outside, a voice rang out. Ye Sanshui's loud shout echoed across the capital. "Su Tianxin, Dachi is done for. Come out and face your death!"