Chapter 982: Rescuing Yan Zhenhuo

In a secluded valley, Blue Lantern was making preparations while Xiao Nanfeng and a group of black-robed subordinates kept watch.

With a hum, the space within the valley trembled with a flash of golden light. A portal suddenly appeared.

"This entrance to the hidden realm was badly decayed, but it's since been repaired. You may enter," Blue Lantern said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded, leading the group within. Once again, they were back in the vajra hidden realm.

Upon entering, they immediately spotted figures flying in the distance. The cultivators quickly concealed themselves.

"Act discreetly for now," Xiao Nanfeng instructed. "We'll make our move when the ceremony for Dayan's change of ruler takes place."

"Understood. That gives me two days to set up a grand formation," Blue Lantern replied.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Guards, you'll be in charge of assisting Blue Lantern and searching for the location where Yan Zhenhuo is being held," Xiao Nanfeng commanded the black-clad men behind him.

"Understood!" they replied in unison.

The men transformed into shadows that hugged the ground before vanishing into the forest.

These were shadow cursed effigies that Xiao Nanfeng had requisitioned from Shenfeng, who were all but untrackable in shadow form.

The cultivators swiftly took action.

Two days later, in a grand hall in Dayan's imperial palace, Yan Zhenshui and "Yan Zhenhuo" bowed solemnly before Yu Banruo, who was seated on a throne.

"Rest assured, Your Highness," Yan Zhenshui said. "Everything is prepared. Communication artifacts have been set up in all major Immortal cities, and the imperial capital has been secured. However, I remain concerned that some powerful individuals might attempt to disrupt the coronation."

"I'll personally oversee the ceremony," Yu Banruo replied confidently. "No one will interfere."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Yan Zhenshui replied immediately.

"Make sure to clean up afterward. Leave no loose ends," Yu Banruo instructed.

Yan Zhenshui's expression turned solemn. "Don't worry, Your Highness. Once the coronation is complete, I will immediately execute Yan Zhenhuo."

"Good." Yu Banruo nodded with satisfaction.

Yan Zhenshui and "Yan Zhenhuo" bowed once more before leaving the grand hall.

Outside, an altar had been set up right in front of the court.

Yan Zhenshui and "Yan Zhenhuo" slowly ascended the platform.

"Yan Zhenhuo" raised his voice, his words resonating throughout the capital. "Hear me, everyone! From this day forward, I, Yan Zhenhuo, will retreat into seclusion and abdicate all affairs of state. As of this moment, I pass command of the empire to my brother, Yan Zhenshui."

"Yan Zhenhuo"'s proclamation boomed throughout Dayan, amplified by the communication artifacts located in all major Immortal cities.

"Hear me, everyone! From this day forward, I, Yan Zhenhuo, will retreat into seclusion and abdicate all affairs of state. As of this moment, I pass command of the empire to my brother, Yan Zhenshui."

Citizens in Immortal cities across the empire lifted their heads. Some sensed that something was amiss—after all, the emperor could use the empire's golden dragon of fortune to directly deliver such proclamations into the minds of all citizens. This announcement, however, merely echoed throughout the cities.

To combat this, Yan Zhenshui had planted loyal officials in the crowd beforehand. They shouted in unison, "We will obey the Immortal Emperor's decree!"

The masses followed suit. "We will obey the Immortal Emperor's decree!"

Still, many people were skeptical.

At the same time, Yan Zhenshui held up an imperial seal as he declared, "I, Yan Zhenshui, hereby establish the divine empire of Daxi. I beseech the world to recognize Daxi as a divine empire!"

With a thunderous boom, the proclamation echoed through communication treasures and resounded across all Immortal cities.

"We pledge allegiance to Daxi! We beseech the world to recognize Daxi as a divine empire!" shouted countless city lords.

This announcement had already been publicized over the past half-month. The citizens knew about the coronation and were prepared to participate in the ceremony.

Apart from a skeptical minority, the citizens followed the crowd and chanted, "We pledge allegiance to Daxi! We beseech the world to recognize Daxi as a divine empire!"

A rumble shook the skies above Dayan. Beneath the original sea of fortune, a new sea began to form. Golden light converged from all over the empire and coalesced into a smaller sea of fortune.

This new sea seemed voracious; it quickly devoured Dayan's original golden sea of fortune. Waves poured from the upper sea and into the lower one.

Dayan's golden dragon of fortune let out a mournful cry as it struggled futilely to protect its sea, but to no avail.

Atop the altar, Yan Zhenshui shouted, "Thank you, everyone! The empire of Daxi has now been established. Let us now petition heaven and earth to elevate Daxi to a divine empire!"

His voice, amplified by the sea of fortune, reached all those who had joined him in the plea. In tandem, communication artifacts broadcasted his message across the empire, even to those who had not yet spoken.

Daxi's sea of fortune grew rapidly as it consumed that of Dayan. The golden dragon of fortune continued its anguished wails, powerless to stop the shift in fortune and faith.

Meanwhile, in Yu Banruo's hall, one cultivator whispered to another, "Pass on the message: Yan Zhenhuo can now be killed."

"Understood!"

Within a dark hall in the vajra hidden realm lay a man drenched in blood and bound with chains. The man was none other than Yan Zhenshui—or rather, Yan Zhenhuo, whose truesoul had been swapped with that of his brother's avatar.

Despite his injuries, Yan Zhenhuo remained composed.

With a clang, the doors to the hall burst open. A man in green robes entered, his expression tense but resolute.

Yan Zhenhuo slowly opened his eyes. "Here to kill me, are you?"

The man hesitated before firming up his resolve. "Your Majesty, a wise bird chooses a sturdy tree. Don't blame me. If only you had pledged loyalty to Crown Prince Banruo earlier—I'm sorry."

"Save that talk for your father," Yan Zhenhuo replied. "Before he died, he entrusted you to me. I granted you power and taught you skills and knowledge. I hope you can face him after death."

The man's face twisted. In the end, he sneered, "You may have done much for me, but so what? There's nothing you can do against the crown prince. Why should I follow you to the bitter end? After you're gone, I'll burn some paper money for you in thanks!"

Yan Zhenhuo closed his eyes as the man's blade descended, yet the strike never came. Puzzled, he opened his eyes to see the man frozen mid-swing, surrounded by shadows that bound his limbs.

"What? What's going on?!" the man screamed.

He struggled, but to no avail. A shadow appeared behind him, gripped his head, and tore it off in a spray of blood.

"No!"

He screamed. His soul attempted to escape through his mindscape, but it was too late. The shadow popped his head into its mouth and began to chew.

"Who are you?" Yan Zhenhuo asked warily.

He heard a laugh. "Yan Zhenhuo, we arrived just in time, didn't we?"

Xiao Nanfeng entered the hall.

"Xiao Nanfeng?" Yan Zhenhuo exclaimed.

"How could I ignore a friend in need?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled, breaking the chains binding Yan Zhenhuo.

Yan Zhenhuo laughed heartily. "Ha! I never expected you to show up. You really are a true friend."

"We'll catch up later. Let's go," Xiao Nanfeng urged.

"Very well." Yan Zhenhuo nodded.

He knew that time was of the essence. He quickly followed Xiao Nanfeng out of the hall.

The exterior of the hall was surrounded with fog. It seemed as if fog had filled the whole world.

"Help! Save me!"

"Inform His Highness that an intruder has broken into the vajra hidden realm!"

"Don't kill me! No!"

Screams came from all over.

"All these Dayan traitors knew about your capture, didn't they?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Yan Zhenhuo nodded with a grimace. "I wanted Yan Zhenshui to gain some experience training a group of subordinates, but they all betrayed me. How laughable I am!"

"In that case, I won't go easy on them. I'm not going to leave them for Yu Banruo," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Do as you will." Yan Zhenhuo nodded. "We'd better leave immediately. Yu Banruo's right outside."

"I'm aware," Xiao Nanfeng replied, taking a deep breath.

Just then, in a large hall within Dayan's capital, one of Yu Banruo's subordinates reported, "Your Highness, someone's rescuing Yan Zhenhuo. My avatar was killed by shadow cursed effigies!"

"Your Highness, someone laid a formation in the vajra hidden realm. There are powerful cultivators killing the vajra guards within. The formation is incredibly potent—my avatar wasn't able to escape at all!"

A group of subordinates quickly reported to Yu Banruo.

"Shadow cursed effigies? Xiao Nanfeng must have come to rescue Yan Zhenhuo," Yu Banruo murmured.

Someone to his side nodded. "It must be him, Your Highness."

Yu Banruo ordered, "Enter the hidden realm and take down Xiao Nanfeng."

"Your Highness, something's wrong! The entrance to the vajra hidden realm has been sealed by a formation. We can't enter!" another subordinate reported.

Yu Banruo's eyes flared with anger. "Xiao Nanfeng, I'll kill you for this!"