Chapter 981: Usurping the Empire

Xiao Nanfeng and the twelve golden cultivators returned to Yongding.

Ye Sanshui greeted them with a bright expression, but quickly turned grumpy. He stomped over and kicked them all. "You little scoundrels!"

"Don't kick us, Third Uncle!" Ye Dafu said hurriedly. "It's not like you can hurt us. You might even hurt your foot instead."

"You rascals! You need a beating," Ye Sanshui fumed. He landed a few slaps on their bodies.

The golden cultivators attempted to dodge but didn't dare to retaliate.

"Alright, alright," Xiao Nanfeng intervened. "Ye Sanshui, calm down for a moment. Let's get to the bottom of this."

"Understood." Ye Sanshui held back his anger and turned to Ye Dafu. "How did you all get caught? Do you know how much effort His Majesty put into finding you?"

"We weren't expecting it either! One day, we suddenly smelled a peculiar fragrance that made us feel incredibly pleasant. We couldn't help but follow it. That's when we fell into Yan Zhenshui's trap. He tricked us with vajra qi!" Ye Dafu exclaimed.

"Vajra qi?" Ye Sanshui asked curiously.

"Yes, it's amazing! Once it entered our bodies, we felt euphoric. We couldn't resist following its scent at the time, but we know to be more cautious now. The vajra hidden realm was filled with vajra qi, so we absorbed as much of it as we could even while being beaten. We managed to reach the Boundless Immortal realm in just a few days!" Ye Dafu exclaimed in excitement.

Xiao Nanfeng laughed. "A blessing in disguise, I suppose."

At that moment, You Jiu hurried over and reported, "Your Majesty, trouble has erupted in Dayan's capital."

"Hm?"

"Yu Banruo arrived himself and challenged Immortal Emperor Yan Zhenhuo openly."

"Right now?" Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, right now!" You Jiu confirmed.

"I need a full account of the situation," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" You Jiu called a spectral guard over. "Report to His Majesty precisely what your avatar observed."

The spectral guard bowed respectfully and began, "Your Majesty, Yu Banruo arrived above Dayan's capital with a group of subordinates. He looked down on Yan Zhenhuo from the skies. Yan Zhenhuo was standing at the entrance to Dayan's imperial court and eyeing him back coldly. He drew on imperial might then and there."

"He drew on imperial might? Repeat his exact words," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

The spectral guard nodded. "'Citizens of Dayan, I am your emperor, Yan Zhenhuo. Today, our empire faces potential extinction. I need your power to defeat this enemy. Please raise your right hand and lend me your strength.'"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Potential extinction? That seemed overly dramatic, considering that his younger brother was one of Yu Banruo's subordinates.

He turned to the spectral guard. "What exactly did Yu Banruo say before the challenge?"

"Yu Banruo flew above the capital and called out, 'Yan Zhenhuo, I challenge you!' That's it."

"That's it? That alone would hardly warrant such a proclamation from Yan Zhenhuo. Something must have happened before Yu Banruo's arrival. Could Yan Zhenhuo and Yan Zhenshui have fallen out with each other?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

The spectral guard added, "Yan Zhenhuo's imperial might is overwhelming. The battle is comparable to your fight against the Void Saint, Your Majesty.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That's to be expected. Dayan might have fewer citizens than Dazheng, and weaker imperial might as a result, but Yan Zhenhuo is stronger than I am."

"They've started fighting—Yu Banruo is incredibly strong! He forced Yan Zhenhuo to retreat with a single palm strike that radiated with golden light. The battle is intensifying. The sky's a storm of golden light and flames. I can't see the combatants clearly."

"Keep monitoring the fight," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" After some time, the guard said, "Your Majesty, they've vanished over the northern part of the city."

"Disappeared in the north? They must have entered the vajra hidden realm during the battle," Xiao Nanfeng deduced. "Stay vigilant."

"Understood!" the spectral guard replied. After some time, he returned again. "Your Majesty, the golden dragon of fortune has returned to the sea of fortune above Dayan's capital."

"That must signify the end of the battle. Did Yan Zhenhuo announce the outcome to the citizens?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"He didn't, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He waited patiently for an update.

After some time, the spectral guard continued, "Your Majesty, they've reappeared. Yu Banruo and Yan Zhenhuo emerged together and are flying toward the imperial palace. Yan Zhenhuo seems to be treating Yu Banruo in an exceptionally friendly manner."

"An exceptionally friendly manner?" Xiao Nanfeng's brows furrowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. They've gone into the palace, and I can't spy on them any longer."

"Very well. Dismissed. Let me know if anything else happens in the meantime."

"Understood!" The spectral guard bowed and retreated.

Xiao Nanfeng fell into contemplation. Something was clearly amiss.

"Your Majesty, Yan Zhenhuo's attitude changed completely! He went from viewing Yu Banruo as a mortal threat to a close friend. Could they have developed a bond during the fight?" Ye Dafu speculated.

"No. It doesn't add up. Yan Zhenhuo has a fundamental conflict with Yu Banruo; they're not aligned. Even if he changed his mind, it would hardly happen this quickly," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Oh?"

"The golden dragon of fortune returned far too early. I fear something may have happened to Yan Zhenhuo."

"Your Majesty, do you mean that the current Yan Zhenhuo might be an imposter? That Yu Banruo might have swapped his truesoul using a cursed mirror fragment?" Ye Dafu exclaimed.

"Indeed. That's my suspicion," Xiao Nanfeng confirmed.

"A fake Yan Zhenhuo?" his retinue exclaimed.

"Then Yan Zhenhuo might be done for!" Ye Dafu continued.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "The golden dragon of fortune is still connected to the true Yan Zhenhuo's truesoul, which must mean he's still alive. He's likely been imprisoned in the vajra hidden realm."

"So Yan Zhenshui colluded with outsiders to trap his own brother? What a scoundrel!" Ye Dafu fumed.

"This world has no shortage of people who are worse than beasts," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Though he had only known Yan Zhenhuo for a brief period of time, Xiao Nanfeng admired his integrity and principles. They'd formed a bond over a fight and a night of drinking. Yan Zhenhuo had even personally helped to rescue Ye Dafu and the others. Xiao Nanfeng felt a surge of anger upon seeing that he had been betrayed.

"Ye Dafu, head to Taiqing Island immediately. Ask my senior brother to scour the records regarding how my father discovered the Indomitable Body."

"Do you intend to rescue Yan Zhenhuo, Your Majesty?" Ye Dafu asked.

"I'll do what I can. All of you saw the defenses of the vajra hidden realm for yourself. How did my father, a mere mortal at the time, manage to infiltrate it? I suspect there's a second entrance. Find anything you can, even if it's just a clue," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!"

Zhao Yuanjiao responded swiftly after receiving Xiao Nanfeng's request. All disciples on the island were mobilized to search through the archives, while his blackguards investigated every location Xiao Nanfeng's father had visited during that period.

Half a month later, in Yongding's imperial study, You Jiu reported, "Your Majesty, just as you suspected, there's something wrong with the current Yan Zhenhuo. He's dismissed his loyal ministers and replaced them with those aligned with Yan Zhenshui. Not only that, he announced his intent to focus on cultivation and pass the throne to his brother."

"Yan Zhenshui really is impatient. Seizing the throne wasn't enough; he wants to steal the empire's fortune as well." Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes.

You Jiu added, "Yu Banruo has dispatched many experts to prepare for the coronation. It's even rumored that he might personally attend. The situation there is extremely dangerous."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I understand your concern. That's why I've been waiting for the right opportunity instead of acting rashly."

Just then, Ye Dafu burst into the study.

"Your Majesty, we've found it! Senior Brother Zhao is amazing. He found a clue about how your father managed to infiltrate the vajra hidden realm!"

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

"Here are the details," Ye Dafu said, handing over a jade tablet.

Xiao Nanfeng read it and smiled. "Good. Since we've found the second entrance to the vajra hidden realm, I shall investigate it personally."

"Your Majesty, please allow us to accompany you. We're familiar with the hidden realm and sensitive to vajra qi. We may be of use," Ye Dafu volunteered immediately.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "All twelve of you will come. Also, bring Blue Lantern along. There may be unfamiliar formations inside."

"Understood!"

After quickly assembling a team, Xiao Nanfeng quietly left Yongding the next day.

In Dayan's capital, within a grand hall, Yan Zhenshui addressed a group of individuals earnestly. "Three days from now, at the coronation ceremony, I will officially take control of Dayan, claiming its fortune and changing its name. I'm concerned that powerful individuals might disrupt the event. Will His Highness be present?"

"Rest assured, I've already confirmed that His Highness will attend. Nothing will go wrong," one person assured him with a smile.

"Good." Yan Zhenshui nodded approvingly.