Chapter 954: The World Tree

Xiao Nanfeng rushed into the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm with the black lotus in his hands.

"Blue Lantern, set up a formation to help Senior Miaoyin recuperate," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" Blue Lantern responded from nearby.

A massive projection of a bronze compass appeared with a wave of his hand, followed by an intense surge of spiritual energy. The energy coalesced around the projected compass in a pool of seven-colored light, delineating a healing formation.

Xiao Nanfeng quickly placed the black lotus into the seven-colored pool.

With a hum, countless streams of seven-colored energy flowed into the black lotus, which instantly began to crack.

"Why is it worsening?" Xiao Nanfeng asked worriedly.

"It's not worsening. The formation is drawing out Senior Liu's injuries. She was gravely wounded, but she's been suppressing the damage to avoid alerting the saint. That's why the injuries weren't visible before," Blue Lantern quickly explained.

Only then did Xiao Nanfeng relax. Moments ago, he thought the black lotus had lost its vitality and feared that Liu Miaoyin had already died.

"Can this healing formation save Senior Miaoyin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"This is the Jade Lake Formation, one of the most potent healing formations in the world. If it cannot help Senior Liu recover, then no formation can. However, the method Senior Liu employed to fight the saint to a mutual defeat was far too dangerous. Only someone with her unique constitution could survive it—anyone else would have been annihilated, body and soul," Blue Lantern replied, his brows furrowed.

"Can you save her or not?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.

"I will do my best. Even if I can't fully heal her, I will ensure that her condition doesn't worsen," Blue Lantern assured him.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Alright, I'll leave this to you."

"This is my duty. Your Majesty, you should return to preside over the conferral ceremony. I can handle this alone," Blue Lantern said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded again. After confirming that there was nothing more he could do for the black lotus, he activated a treasure to leave the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm.

As soon as he stepped out, he was greeted by the thunderous cheers of countless officials and citizens of Dazheng.

"Long live the Immortal Emperor!"

"Long live Dazheng!"

The people were shaken but overjoyed. After all, they had narrowly escaped being massacred by a saint. Thankfully, the saint had ultimately been driven away by the Immortal Emperor.

Not far away, Ye Sanshui returned with a group of zombie kings. His dejected expression made it clear he had failed to catch Chu Tianban and his allies.

"Enter the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm and stand guard for Senior Miaoyin," Xiao Nanfeng instructed Ye Sanshui via mental transmission.

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.

After assigning tasks to his zombie kings, he entered the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng ascended the five-colored altar to resume the conferral ceremony.

At the same time, news of the recent battle in Yongding spread like wildfire across the world.

The revelations stunned many Immortal Emperors and hierarchs.

"What's the source of this information? It's getting more and more outrageous. Xiao Nanfeng defeated someone from Crown Prince Banruo's camp? He defeated a peak Boundless Immortal and even a saint? That's impossible!"

"How can the power of a single empire overcome a saint?!"

"As if saints are just for show! How can imperial might alone defeat one?"

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The information spurred widespread doubt and disbelief, but as more details emerged, the reports were confirmed to be accurate. The Void Saint had indeed been driven away and would have died had he delayed his escape.

The revelation sent shockwaves through empires and holy lands alike.

"So saints aren't invincible after all..."

Many Immortal Emperors suddenly felt a surge of ambition: if Xiao Nanfeng could defeat a saint, then so could they.

At Yongding, the grand ceremony concluded. Xiao Nanfeng convened a court session, granting amnesty to the empire and announcing new appointments before dismissing the court.

Then, he re-entered the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm.

There, he found that the cracks on the black lotus in the seven-colored pool had grown even more numerous. If not for Blue Lantern's reassurance that Liu Miaoyin's condition had not worsened, he would have thought the formation was failing.

"Your Majesty, Senior Liu is still alive, correct?" Blue Lantern asked.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I confirmed it earlier. The sea of fortune over Dajing's capital remains intact, indicating that Senior Miaoyin is still alive."

"That's good. I'll need more time to fully ascertain her condition. I ask for your patience," Blue Lantern said.

"Very well."

"And here is the suncrow that Senior Liu and I captured earlier. It might help you break through, Your Majesty," Blue Lantern said, handing over a storage treasure.

Xiao Nanfeng probed it with his soul, puzzled. "The suncrow is... inanimate?"

"It's likely a treasure forged from solar essence," Blue Lantern explained.

"Solar essence?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. According to the ancient texts left by my sect's founder, solar essence originates from the sun itself and contains purified and concentrated quintessential solarfire. It must have been harvested by a peerless cultivator who once ventured into the sun."

"From the heart of the sun?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

"Exactly. The suncrow only utilized a fraction of the solar essence's energy. The essence itself contains an enormous amount of power. I've sealed it using the bronze compass. The seal blocks internal but not external access, allowing you to draw solarfire from it at will," Blue Lantern explained.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

After confirming that Liu Miaoyin's condition remained stable, Xiao Nanfeng gave Blue Lantern additional instructions before leaving the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm once more.

He set up a formation nearby with his main body and sat cross-legged in meditation.

He opened the storage treasure that Blue Lantern had given him. With a wave of his hand, a brilliant golden sphere emerged. He swallowed the solar essence, drawing it into his dantian.

As his ten golden crows activated, a deafening roar erupted. Countless streams of solarfire surged from the essence into his body, flooding his meridians and bones.

Ye Sanshui stood nearby, guarding Xiao Nanfeng.

Elsewhere, outside a grand, mist-shrouded hall, Chu Tianban stood with a guilty expression plastered on his face.

A servant approached and said, "His Highness has summoned you."

"Understood," Chu Tianban replied, stepping into the hall.

The hall was filled with people, all focused on the man at the northernmost end—a figure in a golden robe, wearing a necklace of golden prayer beads. Though his back was turned, his imposing presence was palpable. He was none other than Crown Prince Banruo, former heir of the Imperial Court.

His subordinates were briefing him on critical matters. Chu Tianban dared not interrupt, and instead quietly awaited his turn.

"The Heavenly Emperor once left everyone who attended a parting gift. To me, he gave only a single sentence: 'To defeat the heavens, one must first plant the World Tree," Crown Prince Banruo said calmly.

"We've investigated numerous records and visited hidden realms, empires, and holy lands, but have found no mention of a World Tree. Could it be a metaphor?" one official asked.

"No. The Jade Emperor wouldn't speak frivolously. Besides, others at the highest level of power also received the same message. The World Tree must exist. We simply haven't found it yet," Banruo replied.

"Understood!" Everyone nodded.

"The World Tree is of utmost importance. Continue your search. While laying plans for the world is necessary, the tree takes precedence," Crown Prince Banruo instructed.

"Understood!" Everyone bowed in unison.

Crown Prince Banruo turned around, revealing a noble and commanding visage. His presence exuded an air of superiority that made those before him feel unworthy.

Chu Tianban stepped forward. "I failed to carry out your orders, Your Highness. Please punish me."

Yu Banruo shook his head. "Enough. Don't blame yourself. Even if you tried harder, it wouldn't have mattered. Xiao Nanfeng nearly killed the Void Saint."

"What? A saint was nearly killed?" Chu Tianban exclaimed.

He had just returned and was unaware of what had transpired in Yongding afterwards.

The others in the hall were equally stunned. One subordinate explained the events to him in detail.

"Dazheng's imperial might was sufficient to defeat a saint? How is that possible?" Chu Tianban asked in disbelief.

"The Void Saint was already gravely injured by Liu Miaoyin. Xiao Nanfeng merely capitalized on the opportunity. Still, imperial might is indeed a force worth considering," Banruo mused.

One of his subordinates smiled. "Your Highness, we've already secured eight empires, and their Immortal Emperors are loyal to us. With their combined power, we could easily surpass Xiao Nanfeng."

Yu Banruo shook his head, faintly amused. "I hardly need imperial might to handle the Void Saint.

"Of course, of course! You are unrivaled in this world, Your Highness," his subordinate quickly flattered him.

Chu Tianban stepped forward, presenting a treasure. "I managed to escape with the charm to control the suncrow. Without this, Xiao Nanfeng won't be able to make use of it."

Banruo nodded. "The suncrow is a treasure I once forged from solar essence when I ventured into the sun. It's sealed with my techniques, so others indeed cannot control it."

However, Crown Prince Banruo suddenly frowned.

"What's wrong, Your Highness?" his subordinates asked.

Banruo's face darkened. "The seal on the solar essence has been broken."

"What? Does that mean someone else can now control it?" Chu Tianban asked, shocked.

"The seal is integrated with the essence itself. Breaking the seal destroys the essence. No one can use it now," Banruo replied, displeased.

Chu Tianban's expression shifted. "Destroyed? Why would Xiao Nanfeng do that? That was a priceless treasure!"

Back in Yongding, within the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm, as Xiao Nanfeng drained the solar essence of energy, flames surged from his body, creating shockwaves that rippled through the surrounding formations.

"The ninth stage of the Golden Immortal realm..." Blue Lantern marveled from nearby.