Chapter 985: Battle of Nan and Xi

Madam Rouge waved her hand. A mirror appeared out of thin air, exuding a peculiar cursed spiritual power.

Yan Zhenhuo frowned. "You have a cursed mirror too?"

"Relax," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

Yan Zhenhuo hesitated for a moment before nodding. He glanced at his reflection curiously.

Madam Rouge waved her hand toward the mirror. The reflection of Yan Zhenhuo suddenly froze, its expression dull and lifeless, pale like a corpse.

"Is there something wrong with the reflection?" Yan Zhenhuo exclaimed in surprise.

Madam Rouge dismissed the mirror with a wave of her hand. "There are plenty of issues with your body. Your truesoul has been swapped, and this body has been tampered with. It's riddled with death energy and won't last much longer. Before long, both this body and your soul will decay, leaving you dead."

"What? Yan Zhenshui, how much more ruthless can you get?!" Yan Zhenhuo's face turned grim.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Madam Rouge. "How can we help him?"

"Without knowing what kind of mirror the other party used, I won't be able to come up with a solution." Madam Rouge shook her head.

"Luckily, I have a sample," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Oh?" The two cultivators turned to Xiao Nanfeng, who retrieved a sealed mirror and passed it to Madam Rouge.

She accepted it with a hint of surprise. Waving her hand, she sent a beam of golden light into the mirror, breaking the seal and unleashing a strange, cursed aura.

Yan Zhenhuo gasped. "That's the same aura that I felt after Yu Banruo defeated me! He had Yan Zhenshui's avatar use such a mirror to swap our truesouls. Your Majesty, how do you have such a mirror?"

"Yu Banruo sent people after me, intending to swap my truesoul as well. I detected the plot in advance and eliminated his subordinates. I was able to obtain this mirror in the process."

"They tried to target you?" Madam Rouge's eyes glinted coldly.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Luckily, I found out in time."

Madam Rouge felt a sense of anger overwhelm her. "Yu Banruo will pay for this."

"Can you glean anything from this mirror?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Madam Rouge took a deep breath and calmed down. She studied the mirror carefully. "This mirror is formed from cursed spiritual power, and isn't a cursed spiritual avatar itself. I'll need to examine a cursed spiritual avatar to get full insight."

"A cursed spiritual avatar? I do have another mirror. Will you have a look at it?" Xiao Nanfeng offered.

He handed Madam Rouge a shattered mirror.

"How many times have you clashed with Yu Banruo?" Madam Rouge exclaimed, surprised.

"I obtained this mirror by chance, not as part of Yu Banruo's schemes. There was a two-headed giant within. After Blue Lantern and I killed the creature, the mirror shattered. Would you see if it's of any use?" Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened.

Madam Rouge examined it for a moment before she nodded. "It's the same type of cursed effigy. If I'm not mistaken, this mirror is an ordinary cursed effigy, and Yu Banruo is the cursed king corresponding to these mirrors."

"Are you familiar with these mirrors?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Madam Rouge shook her head. "I am not."

"Hm?"

"The mirror I obtained from the world away is different from this one. This is likely something that Yu Banruo obtained from the world away himself. His mirror cursed effigies likewise have a special ability, but it's different from mine. I can't provide more insight."

"Is that so? Forget it, then. I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll try to find a solution myself," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"What do you mean?" Madam Rouge asked indignantly.

"I've already disrupted your seclusion enough. You should continue your cultivation—I'll think of something else."

Madam Rouge grew even more annoyed upon seeing him ready to leave. Did that blockhead really think that she had forgotten everything from their shared dream? She had no intention of letting him leave just like that!

"Are you looking down on me?" Madam Rouge huffed.

"Why would I? Didn't you say that you don't understand these mirrors? I don't want to disturb you further."

"You've already interrupted my secluded cultivation! How am I supposed to continue now? Since you're here, if I want to maintain my reputation, I naturally have to help solve your problem."

"What would you like to do?"

"I'll take responsibility for this. Though my mirrors are different from Yu Banruo's, I can draw on fundamental similarities between them to some extent. I'll study it and figure out how to stimulate the cursed spiritual power here to recover Yan Zhenhuo's body," Madam Rouge declared.

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

"But you'll have to stay and help me fight a war," Madam Rouge continued.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. "What war?"

"I intend to attack Daxi."

"Why?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"As you said, Dayan has been devoured by Daxi, and is now under Yan Zhenshui's control. To recover Yan Zhenhuo's body, I'll need to destroy Daxi. It'll be far easier to act when he isn't supported by imperial might. Besides, after helping you with such a big favor, wouldn't it be fair for you to assist me in taking Daxi's territory?" Madam Rouge smiled.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned slightly. He turned toward Yan Zhenhuo.

Yan Zhenhuo immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I am now but a humble subject of Dazheng. I have no further attachment to Dayan, which no longer exists. I shall obey your decision."

Xiao Nanfeng turned back to Madam Rouge. Though she seemed to have forgotten their shared dream, he still considered her his wife. If Danan were to absorb Daxi, she, and by extension he, would stand to gain.

"Very well," Xiao Nanfeng agreed.

"I'll have Yan Zhenhuo lead the frontlines while you remain here to command the war behind the scenes," Madam Rouge continued.

A war between empires wouldn't be resolved quickly. Madam Rouge's goal was simply to have Xiao Nanfeng remain here.

"Very well." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

He was hoping to use their time together to restore her lost memories.

Within the imperial palace in Daxi's capital—the former Dayan's capital—Yu Banruo glowered. "Has the investigation borne fruit?"

"Not yet. They cleaned everything up thoroughly and left no traces behind," Yan Zhenshui replied.

"Rescuing Yan Zhenhuo is one thing, but what about the disappearance of the Vajra Eidolon? What about the disappearance of the Heaven's Hand? What's going on?" Yu Banruo demanded.

"The Vajra Eidolon aside, being able to dispel the Heaven's Hand surely requires Saint-level power at least," Yan Zhenshui speculated.

Yu Banruo narrowed his eyes. "Was Liu Miaoyin here?"

"It's very likely," Yan Zhenshui replied.

"Xiao Nanfeng is becoming more and more troublesome."

"Your Highness, it seems that you'll have to take action yourself," Yan Zhenshui agreed.

Yu Banruo was just about to nod when a man rushed into the hall.

"Your Highness, Yan Zhenhuo has been spreading a proclamation through Daxi via Danan's spies," the man reported.

"Indeed? Read it," Yu Banruo ordered.

The man nodded and read aloud, "To the people of Dayan: I am Yan Zhenhuo. I did not abdicate in favor of Yan Zhenshui. His usurpation was a conspiracy. Months ago, Yan Zhenshui, colluding with Yu Banruo, lured me into a trap and used dark arts to swap our truesouls in an act of treason against the empire. Yan Zhenshui is cruel and oppressive, and he will surely mistreat the people. By great fortune, I have escaped and am under the protection and support of Danan. I now seek to overthrow Yan Zhenshui's regime, reclaim my body, and liberate the people. To my former ministers and loyal subjects, you were stripped of your posts not by my will but because I was powerless to protect myself. Safeguard yourselves until I return to restore your honor."

The hall fell silent.

"How dare he—Yan Zhenhuo!" Yan Zhenshui roared.

"Why would Danan interfere?" Yu Banruo frowned.

Just then, another subordinate rushed into the hall. "Your Highness, Danan has issued a declaration of war against Daxi."

"Read it," Yu Banruo ordered.

The man complied. "To the people of Danan and the former people of Dayan: The Heavenly Emperor has slain one aspect of the heavens for the sake of all living beings, but another may soon descend to destroy the world. To protect the people, Danan, Dazheng, and Dayan have forged an alliance to resist the heavens and secure a future for the world. However, the heartless villain Yan Zhenshui, betraying both kin and honor, conspired with traitors to usurp Dayan and rename it Daxi. Today, Danan hereby formally declares war on Daxi. The wronged emperor Yan Zhenhuo will serve as the commander-in-chief of Danan's army. We shall eradicate the heartless villain Yan Zhenshui to restore order to the land and pave the way for the survival of all living beings."

Yan Zhenshui was livid. "Madam Rouge is insane! Why is she interfering? Who's the heartless villain here? It's her!"

Yu Banruo, however, remained calm. "So Yan Zhenhuo has joined forces with Xiao Nanfeng and Madam Rouge. Does this mean that Xiao Nanfeng will join the war, too?"

Yan Zhenshui frowned. "Your Highness, I foresee great turmoil in Daxi following this letter. Danan will exploit the chaos. If Xiao Nanfeng joins the battle, I fear I won't be able to hold them off."

Yu Banruo's smile deepened. "This isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Oh?" Yan Zhenshui seemed puzzled.

"Madam Rouge wants to prove herself, and Xiao Nanfeng is joining the fray. Fine. We'll find an opportunity to swap them both. Wouldn't that solve our problem?"

"Swap them?" The eyes of Yu Banruo's subordinates lit up.