Chapter 991: The Divine Emperor Takes Action

In the imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng's avatar was discussing some affairs of state with a few important officials when a streak of black light suddenly whizzed by. A figure appeared within the imperial study, causing alarms to blare from the surrounding formations.

"Someone triggered the formation! There's an intruder!"

"Quick, protect His Majesty!"

"Someone has broken into the imperial palace!"

Cries of alarm echoed from outside the imperial study.

Within the study, Xiao Nanfeng quickly called out, "It's fine. I am safe."

The guards outside hesitated, unsure what to do.

Inside the study, the officials meeting with Xiao Nanfeng were taken by surprise. They bowed toward him. "Your Majesty, please allow us to take our leave."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Go."

The officials quickly left the room.

Someone had entered uninvited—but that someone was none other than the Divine Emperor of Shenfeng.

"What brings you here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile as he stepped forward.

The Divine Emperor bit her lip, her eyes filled with tension. Her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a little as she saw Xiao Nanfeng's expression.

"I came out of secluded cultivation to hear that you were stabbed in the chest by someone called Yu Banruo, that you were grievously injured. You were nearly killed! How could I not show up?" The Divine Emperor's eyes were full of worry.

"Well, I did sustain a few injuries, but it's not serious. You know I have powers and tricks of my own," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.

"A few injuries? You cultivate the Imposing Avatar of Rulai! You've never been injured this badly before. How can you laugh about it?" The Divine Emperor's eyes turned red as she spoke.

"It's fine, really. If you don't believe me, I'll have my main body come back and show you that he's well." Xiao Nanfeng gently held her hand and smiled warmly.

"Tell me what happened. I want to know who this Yu Banruo is," the Divine Emperor demanded stubbornly.

"Don't worry, I can handle it. You don't need to concern yourself about it," Xiao Nanfeng replied gently.

"I want to know," the Divine Emperor insisted.

Left with no choice, Xiao Nanfeng briefly explained what had happened, though he glossed over details regarding Madam Rouge and gave a simplified account of Yu Banruo's background.

Fortunately, the Divine Emperor didn't press him about Madam Rouge. "Do you have a dossier on Yu Banruo?"

"I do, but it's incomplete."

"Let me see it."

Xiao Nanfeng passed her a jade tablet.

The Divine Emperor scanned it, then said, "Very well. I'll be heading back, then."

"So soon?" Xiao Nanfeng quickly held her hand.

"Since you're alright, I can relax. I have things to do," the Divine Emperor replied.

"You're going back into secluded cultivation?"

"More or less." The Divine Emperor didn't seem inclined to provide any details.

"At least let me escort you back."

"No need!" The Divine Emperor shook her head.

Her figure suddenly vanished from the imperial study.

In Danan's capital, within a grove of peach blossoms in the imperial palace, Madam Rouge learned against Xiao Nanfeng, watching peach blossoms fall around them.

"Has your body not fully recovered yet, husband?" Madam Rouge asked.

"It'll take one or two more days," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Madam Rouge frowned. "The Records of Life and Death are less effective than I'd like."

"Now that Danan has annexed Daxi, there must be a lot of state affairs for you to handle. Shouldn't you focus on them?"

"What's there to handle? Yan Zhenhuo is already helping me convince the various city lords and clan heads of Daxi to join Danan wholesale. Besides, dealing with state affairs is hardly as important as accompanying my husband," Madam Rouge teased, tickling Xiao Nanfeng's nose with a peach blossom petal.

"If you act like this, your officials will call you a hedonist who prioritizes your personal pleasures over affairs of state," Xiao Nanfeng murmured back.

"So be it, then! I don't care. You're mine now, and you're not escaping," Madam Rouge said smugly.

Xiao Nanfeng was just about to respond when his expression turned stiff, as if he had received some unexpected news.

"What's the matter?" Madam Rouge asked curiously.

Just then, an attendant rushed into the peach blossom grove.

"Your Majesty, something's wrong!" she exclaimed.

"Who allowed you in here?" Madam Rouge frowned at the attendant.

The attendant glanced at Xiao Nanfeng, who was sprawled on the ground with Madam Rouge on top of him. She urgently signaled to Lady Rouge with her eyes.

Madam Rouge frowned. She got up and pulled the attendant aside. "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty, let's speak privately," the attendant whispered.

"What's there to hide from my husband?" Madam Rouge frowned.

"It's about the Divine Emperor."

Madam Rouge narrowed her eyes. She pulled the attendant out of the peach grove as she turned and called out, "Husband, wait for me. I'll be back momentarily."

By then, Xiao Nanfeng had already risen, his brows furrowed in thought.

Meanwhile, Madam Rouge brought the attendant to a nearby hall. She quickly began, "Your Majesty, you commanded me to inform you immediately about any news regarding the Divine Emperor, Liu Miaoyin, Xia Yu'er, Lan Yaoguang, and Zhang Lingjun. I apologize for barging into the grove."

"It's not an issue. What's the news?"

"Just now, the Divine Emperor issued a denunciation against Yu Banruo and an invitation to duel with her. In addition, she named nine divine empires allegedly colluding with him. For every day that Yu Banruo does not respond to her invitation, she will kill an Immortal Emperor from those divine empires."

"What? She's planning to take on Yu Banruo herself?" Madam Rouge exclaimed.

"Indeed. I don't know what's gotten into the Divine Emperor."

Madam Rouge pursed her lips. "Yu Banruo almost killed Xiao Nanfeng. She wants to take revenge."

"Should we wait and see how things play out, Your Majesty?"

"Wait? Of course not! Nanfeng was injured because of me. I should be the one retaliating against Yu Banruo on his behalf!" Madam Rouge declared, patently upset.

"But you've done so, Your Majesty," the attendant replied soothingly. "You grievously wounded Yu Banruo."

"He's not dead. How can that count as proper retaliation? No—summon the officials of court and prepare a proclamation of war. I won't let the Divine Emperor steal this chance from me. I'll protect my man myself!" Madam Rouge said impatiently.

In the southern continent, within the capital of Dazhu, one of the nine divine empires working with Yu Banruo, the Divine Emperor appeared in the sky. She glared coldly at the capital far below her.

"Immortal Emperor of Dazhu, face your end!" she declared.

Dazhu was in chaos. Officials were mired in an intense debate within the imperial court.

"The Divine Emperor is here to challenge us—how reckless. Does she not realize that this is His Majesty's domain?"

"Your Majesty, I request permission to fight!"

The court was in an uproar. All eyes turned to the man seated on the draconic throne, dressed in a green draconic robe—the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu.

The Immortal Emperor ignored the clamor of his officials and left the hall. The officials eyed each other and scrambled out after him.

Looking up at the sky, he shouted, "Immortal Emperor of Shenfeng, do you know where you are?"

"Enough talk. Come and face your death!" the Divine Emperor replied coldly.

The Immortal Emperor of Dazhu narrowed his eyes. He had already investigated the Divine Emperor's background. She was an unparalleled powerhouse who was active fifty thousand years ago, and who was on par with the famed Spirit Emperor of legend as hegemons of the world. He dared not underestimate her.

"Citizens of Dazhu, hear me! An enemy has come to destroy our empire. I ask you all to raise your right hand and lend me your strength so that I may vanquish this invader!"

The Immortal Emperor of Dazhu's voice echoed across the empire through Dazhu's sea of fortune.

Simultaneously, Dazhu's defensive formations activated at full power. The Immortal Emperor of Dazhu cautiously watched the Divine Emperor in the sky, wary of a sneak attack.

Yet the Divine Emperor made no move. She merely stood coldly, as if waiting for the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu to harness the power of his empire. This strange scene left many observers stunned.

Dazhu's golden dragon of fortune surged forth, bringing with it the power of imperial might. A tremendous surge of power erupted around the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu.

He laughed boldly and shot into the sky. "Divine Emperor, I'll take you down here and now!"

He threw a punch infused with imperial might. A massive green fist appeared, surrounded by countless bamboo manifestations, and shot straight at the Divine Emperor, tearing a huge rift in space as it did so.

The Divine Emperor's eyes turned cold. With a wave of her hand, she summoned her signature bell.

A golden sound wave erupted, causing the bamboo to break and dissipate. The wavefront collided with the fist and stopped it with a thunderous crash.

"What? Impossible!" the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu exclaimed.

He had even drawn on imperial might! How could he have failed to break a single artifact?

"Is that all? My turn," the Divine Emperor said coldly.

In a flash, she appeared right before the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu. His expression changed dramatically as he unleashed another technique. "Sea of Bamboo!"

A vast sea of bamboo engulfed the heavens and pressed down on the Divine Emperor.

"Cleave!" the Divine Emperor intoned.

She slashed forward with her hand. Red light blazed across the sky. The blade, seemingly imbued with everlasting flames, cut through the sea of bamboo with unstoppable force. It shot straight toward the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu's chest.

"Imperial Seal of Dazhu!" the Immortal Emperor invoked.

A glowing imperial seal appeared from his chest, blocking the attack with the projection of a great mountain.

The red blade struck the seal with an earth-shaking explosion. The seal trembled violently. The shockwave shattered the surrounding space, sending the Immortal Emperor staggering back. His scalp tingled with dread.

"The consumption of fortune—this can't be! Pour more fortune into the imperial seal, quickly!" he shouted in panic.

The sea of fortune drained into the imperial seal, causing it to glow with golden brilliance.

"Domain of Life!" the Divine Emperor invoked.

Brilliant red light erupted from her body and illuminated the sky. The dazzling light blinded countless spectators.

"How can there be such intense red light in broad daylight?" many exclaimed in astonishment.

Those who managed to open their eyes saw an unbelievable sight: a massive red tree, towering into the heavens, had appeared behind the Divine Emperor. The tree shimmered with brilliance, pouring endless power into her and exponentially enhancing her red blade's might.

"A giant red tree—could that be a world tree?!" someone gasped in shock.

With a deafening roar, the imperial seal of Dazhu shattered under the blade's power.

"No!" the Immortal Emperor of Dazhu screamed.

The red blade tore through all his defenses, pierced his chest, and emerged from his back. Blood rained down from the sky.