Chapter 947: Targeting Blue Lantern

Outside Dachi's capital, Dazheng's army stood poised for a final confrontation. Everyone knew that the army's sole purpose was to eliminate Su Tianxin. The decisive battle was that very day—once Su Tianxin fell, Dachi would be consigned to history.

Ye Sanshui stood at attention with his troops, aware of the hatred Blue Lantern harbored and the torment he was likely inflicting upon Su Tianxin. He understood Blue Lantern's pain; anyone in his position would find it impossible to forgive Su Tianxin easily.

The army waited. Far off on a mountaintop, Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin were also watching and waiting.

"Any sign of Yu Banruo's men?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Liu Miaoyin shook her head.

"Something doesn't feel right," Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"What's wrong?" Liu Miaoyin asked curiously.

"Blue Lantern is already dealing with Su Tianxin, but Yu Banruo's forces haven't made a move. It's unusual," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Perhaps Yu Banruo knows there's nothing to gain here," Liu Miaoyin suggested.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head but said nothing more. He continued to wait patiently.

After a while, with a deafening boom, the formations in the distance trembled. Thick fog scattered, gradually revealing the imperial palace of Dachi.

Within, Su Tianxin's loyalists had all been killed. Blue Lantern emerged from the entrance of the main hall, holding a severed head.

As he stepped forward, he raised it high and declared loudly, "Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my duty. Su Tianxin is dead. Here is the proof!"

Cheers erupted from Dazheng's army.

They recognized Su Tianxin's head. With his death, everything was settled—Dachi was no more.

"Enter the city!" Ye Sanshui commanded.

"Enter the city!" countless soldiers echoed, their voices filled with excitement.

With a thunderous rumble, Dazheng's army poured into the city and officially took control of Dachi's capital.

The citizens of the capital breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had feared a brutal battle that might destroy the city, but to their surprise, the buildings were intact and the losses minimal.

For a moment, laughter and joy filled the streets as the citizens returned to the city.

At the entrance to the palace, Blue Lantern continued to hold Su Tianxin's head up high. He glanced coldly at the cheering people. When Ye Sanshui approached him, his expression slowly eased into calm.

"Blue Lantern, you really are impressive. Even I wasn't certain I'd be able to take down Su Tianxin, but you slew him easily," Ye Sanshui praised.

Blue Lantern inclined his head. "I simply prepared a formation in advance and won because of luck. I apologize, but I'm not in a good mood right now. I won't accompany you for the celebration."

Ye Sanshui nodded in understanding.

Though Blue Lantern had managed to avenge Su Qingchan, the mental trauma from his fiancée's death surely lingered. It was natural that he would be upset and not want to converse with others.

Blue Lantern dismantled the formation before leaving in a hurry.

On the mountaintop, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "I have a sense of unease."

"Isn't Su Tianxin dead? Ye Sanshui checked his corpse himself. Surely he wouldn't be mistaken," Liu Miaoyin replied.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I know, but this final confrontation went by too successfully. It seems strange to me that Yu Banruo didn't interfere."

"You think he had some ploy in mind?" Liu Miaoyin asked curiously.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Perhaps I'm being too cautious, but I trust my intuition."

"Hm?"

"You need to leave immediately."

"Leave?" Liu Miaoyin asked, perplexed.

"Right. If you stay by my side, Yu Banruo's subordinates surely won't dare do anything to me."

"You want me to pretend to leave and instead set up an ambush in the vicinity?"

"Exactly. I'll arrange for something to arise in Dajing that needs your immediate attention. Officially, you'll leave to handle the matter. In reality, you'll remain hidden here."

"Very well." Liu Miaoyin agreed with a nod.

The day after Dachi's fall, news arrived of an invasion in Dajing to the north. Liu Miaoyin publicly announced her departure to address the threat.

Soon after, there were reports that the invasion efforts had intensified. Liu Miaoyin, now stationed in Dajing's capital, took command in quelling the invasion.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng hosted a grand celebration for Dazheng's army to commemorate Su Tianxin's defeat. The event, though festive, was only a prelude of things to come—the real accolades would be awarded once the empire was elevated into a divine empire.

After the banquet, Xiao Nanfeng sought out Blue Lantern.

"Blue Lantern, in one month, Dazheng will officially ascend into a divine empire. During this time, Yongding's layout needs to be restructured to reflect its future as the imperial capital. I need you to focus entirely on its defensive formations," Xiao Nanfeng said solemnly.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I've already sent my juniors to redirect the draconic veins, and I've started setting up the formations myself. The city's defenses will be ready ahead of schedule," Blue Lantern replied.

"Thank you for your efforts." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"It's no trouble," Blue Lantern replied before taking his leave.

Over the next few days, Dazheng's officials worked tirelessly as they managed their newly conquered cities and prepared for the empire's ascension ceremony. Everyone was too busy to rest.

Several days later, Xiao Nanfeng, taking a rare moment of respite in the palace, surveyed the bustling city and let out a quiet sigh.

Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes. He called out, "Summon You Jiu!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" a servant replied respectfully.

Moments later, You Jiu arrived and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

"Bring me a map marked with the areas where Blue Lantern has been working on his formations. Also, investigate whether he's been behaving unusually," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" You Jiu replied, his tone serious.

"You must handle this personally. Gather information discreetly—no traces, no mistakes. Blue Lantern's formations are intricate, and he tends to be secretive. Exercise utmost caution," Xiao Nanfeng emphasized.

"Understood!" You Jiu bowed and departed.

Xiao Nanfeng returned to his study, acting as though nothing unusual had happened as he continued to review official documents.

Half a day later, You Jiu returned with a detailed report of Blue Lantern's recent activities, including maps of his formation sites. Xiao Nanfeng studied them intently.

As he analyzed the data, Xiao Nanfeng's expression darkened. "Something has happened to Blue Lantern."

"What do you mean?" You Jiu asked in surprise.

"Blue Lantern once outlined his plans for Yongding's formations. There's a critical area he said would remain untouched—but now it's been altered without explanation. Something is wrong. And the way Su Tianxin died... it's far too convenient. He didn't escape, didn't resist, and didn't even take down the palace during his last stand—it's all highly suspicious. I suspect this Blue Lantern is fake," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"But the investigation revealed no changes in his behavior," You Jiu protested.

"Whoever has impersonated Blue Lantern must have extensive knowledge of his habits or conducted thorough research beforehand," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Could Blue Lantern be dead?" You Jiu's face paled.

"I don't know," Xiao Nanfeng said grimly.

"If something's wrong with Blue Lantern, might others have suffered the same fate? This could be more serious than we think," You Jiu said, his tone heavy.

"Where is Blue Jade?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"She's been sent out to redirect the draconic veins. She should return tomorrow."

"Good," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Later that day, Blue Lantern was busy setting up formations outside Yongding City when a fellow formations master rushed over.

Suddenly, one of his juniors rushed over to him. "Senior Uncle, bad news! Blue Jade has been ambushed and captured!"

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"What?" Blue Lantern's eyes widened in alarm.

Suddenly, a spectral guard rushed over.

"Sir Blue Lantern, we failed to protect Blue Jade. Someone ambushed her party and captured her. His Majesty is furious and has sent Sir Ye to investigate," the guard reported.

Blue Lantern's expression shifted between anger and frustration before he composed himself. "Where was she seized? Lead me there."

"Understood!" the spectral guard replied.

With anger glimmering in his gaze, Blue Lantern and a group of his subordinates followed the spectral guard to a forest in the distance. The scene was chaotic, and there were obvious signs that a struggle had taken place.

"Senior Brother, Blue Jade has been captured! Please save her!" a wounded disciple pleaded.

"Who took her?" Blue Lantern demanded.

"It was Hu Tianlong's top disciple, Blue River! I saw it with my own eyes!" the disciple shouted, clutching his injured chest.

"Blue River?" Blue Lantern was stunned.

"Yes, Senior Brother! When you and His Majesty were setting up formations against Su Tianxin, Zeng Tianqi, and Hu Tianlong, Hu Tianlong perished in Yongding. His disciple, Blue River, is back for revenge. He can't touch His Majesty, so he's targeting you. Before leaving, he said, 'Blue Lantern betrayed his sect in favor of outsiders. I'll make him regret it.'"

Blue Lantern grimaced, but he remained composed. He told his subordinates, "Don't worry. It's an old grudge of mine."

Blue Lantern's subordinates nodded silently.

"Where did they go?" Blue Lantern asked.

"They went that way. Sir Ye is already pursuing them, but their current whereabouts are unknown. Senior Brother, you should be able to find her with the bronze compass, right? Please, save her!" the disciple implored.

Blue Lantern nodded. "I will search for her."

He retrieved a bronze compass and activated it. A wisp of blue smoke pointed in a certain direction.

"Let's go! It's that way!" Blue Lantern commanded.

They followed the trail of smoke to a mountain forest where smoke and dust billowed thickly. Overhead, Ye Sanshui hovered with his troops, holding Blue River's lifeless body.

"Ye Sanshui?" Blue Lantern exclaimed as he flew over.

When Ye Sanshui saw Blue Lantern arrive, he frowned bitterly. "I'm sorry, Blue Lantern. I came too late."

"What's wrong?" Blue Lantern frowned.

"Blue River captured Blue Jade and violated her honor in order to take revenge on you. She's currently in the valley in an emotionally unstable state. Even after I killed Blue River, it was no use—she's intent on ending her life."

"What?" Blue Lantern's face twisted in shock.

"We barely convinced her not to do so, but things are still risky. She insists on seeing you one last time, alone. Please, talk to her." Ye Sanshui sighed.

"How could this happen? Where is she?"

"Right in the valley. Go on—we'll guard the area. Please, try to calm her down," Ye Sanshui urged.

Blue Lantern's expression darkened further, but he nodded. Turning to his subordinates, he said, "Wait here."

With that, Blue Lantern stepped into the valley.

As he entered it, every hair on his body stood on end.

"Something's wrong—this is a trap!" he shouted.

Before he could warn his team, the scenery shifted.

Blue Lantern found himself in another space.

Here, a brilliant moon hung in the sky, with stars orbiting in intricate patterns.

Beneath the moon, Xiao Nanfeng floated in the air, standing beside an unharmed Blue Jade. The entire scenario had been nothing more than an elaborate ruse.