Chapter 997: Xiao Nanfeng VS Yu Banruo

Outside Yongding, with a deafening roar, the defensive formations around the city shattered, revealing monstrous beings roaming outside the city. They were hundreds of meters tall, with savage claws and a menacing presence.

"Your Majesty, now that Yongding's been brought into this mirror world, its defensive formations have been drastically weakened because they've been cut off from the draconic veins that power them. We won't be able to defend it for long," Blue Lantern said, frowning.

"Your Majesty, allow me to lead our forces outside and kill those mirror demons," Ye Sanshui volunteered.

"There's no need," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.

As he spoke, three massive moons appeared behind him, radiating light in three distinct colors. The light quickly enveloped all of Yongding. With a hum, Yongding vanished into thin air.

The mirror demons lunged forward, only to find that their prey had vanished.

"Xiao Nanfeng, this is my mirror world. No one can escape. You won't be able to hide." Yu Banruo's voice echoed from the sky, his expression dark.

"Come find us and see for yourself," Xiao Nanfeng called back.

"You think you can hide in a little Deific Yin realm? Ha!" Yu Banruo snarled.

He pointed into the void with a finger. The void rippled and split open to reveal the entrance to Xiao Nanfeng's Realm of the Three Worlds.

With a roar, countless mirror demons swarmed into the realm.

Within the Realm of the Three Worlds, three moons hung high in the sky. They shone resplendently as the mirror demons charged forward.

Before the red and blue moons could strike, the purple moon trembled and transformed into a purple eye. It engulfed the mirror demons in dazzling violet light.

Sharp fangs emerged from the light, biting and shredding the mirror demons into pieces before swallowing them whole.

Outside, Yu Banruo glowered.

"Yu Banruo, your mirror demons have been wiped out. Why don't you come fight me personally?" Xiao Nanfeng called out mockingly.

"Just you wait, Xiao Nanfeng. I'll deal with you soon enough," Yu Banruo responded coldly.

"Why wait? Now's the perfect time. If you don't act, we will," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The void trembled, and a figure in pink emerged: Madam Rouge.

"Madam Rouge? What are you doing here?" Yu Banruo asked in surprise.

Madam Rouge ignored him, coldly surveying her surroundings before striking forward with a fist. "Break!"

A mirror-like shockwave rippled outward as her strike landed. With a shattering sound, the entire mirror world collapsed.

With a loud boom, Madam Rouge stepped out of the mirror world. Xiao Nanfeng appeared in the sky as well.

By then, Yu Banruo and his subordinates had already retreated to the sea, fleeing as the mirror world shattered.

"Madam Rouge, my spies were watching you. Weren't you in the western continent? How could you be here?" Yu Banruo asked, still in disbelief.

Madam Rouge gave him a cold look. "You fled from me last time. Let's see how you plan to escape now."

She darted forward to attack Yu Banruo.

Yu Banruo blanched and raised a fist in self-defense.

"Break!" Madam Rouge roared, meeting his attack head-on.

With a thunderous explosion, their attacks collided in a fiery shockwave that pulsed across the sky.

As the two supreme cultivators fought above the Eastern Sea, Yu Banruo's subordinates shouted, "Take down Xiao Nanfeng!"

They charged toward him, only for Xiao Nanfeng to wave his hand and summon Yan Zhenhuo, Ye Dafu, and others out of thin air. They shot toward Yu Banruo's subordinates, triggering a fiery clash.

"Yanzhi, be careful. I'm going to put Yongding back, then join you!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

He rushed toward land.

Before long, he arrived at Yongding's original location, which was now barren and swirling with roiling fortune.

He extended his hand. With a burst of light, he retrieved Yongding from the Realm of the Three Worlds and slowly brought it down toward the ground.

"Protect the city!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Understood!" countless Dazheng soldiers replied, flying out to support Yongding as it landed.

With a thunderous crash, the city settled to the ground. Despite Xiao Nanfeng's best efforts, many buildings had collapsed, and the weaker citizens cried out in pain from the shockwaves that resulted in the aftermath.

"Your Majesty, we're back!" Ye Sanshui cried out.

"Assist and support the people!" Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Just then, a streak of light sped toward them—Xiao Nanfeng's main body.

He had used the Heartgate that connected his bodies to send Madam Rouge, Yan Zhenhuo, and others from the western continent to engage Yu Banruo.

He was frowning in annoyance. If not for his fortuitous advancement and subsequent access to his Heartgate, Yu Banruo's ploy really might have succeeded.

"People of Dazheng! Moments ago, evildoers attacked Yongding, seeking to destroy our empire. I now call upon all of you to lend me your strength so we may vanquish these villains!" Xiao Nanfeng's voice boomed.

With a resounding roar, the golden dragon of fortune transmitted his words across the empire.

Many of Dazheng's citizens had already learned of the attack on Yongding through the use of avatars. As such, they were prepared to lend Xiao Nanfeng their power.

"Your Majesty, take my strength!"

"Quick, raise your right hand! Help His Majesty destroy those villains!"

Countless voices could be heard as streams of power flowed toward the golden dragon of fortune.

The dragon roared and surged toward Xiao Nanfeng.

With a burst of light, the golden dragon fused with Xiao Nanfeng, causing his body to swell with immense energy.

Empowered by imperial might, Xiao Nanfeng sped toward the Eastern Sea.

Above the Eastern Sea, Yu Banruo's frustration was palpable. His plan to trap Yongding and destroy Xiao Nanfeng's avatar at his leisure had failed, foiled by the unexpected appearance of Madam Rouge. Now that he was trapped in battle with her, he couldn't escape.

Their fierce clash sent massive waves crashing across the sea.

The spectacle drew numerous powerful observers, all intrigued by the fight.

"Madam Rouge, why interfere in my feud with Xiao Nanfeng?" Yu Banruo demanded.

"You're shameless. Don't you know my connection to Xiao Nanfeng?" Madam Rouge retorted coldly.

As their attacks collided again, fiery shockwaves rippled outward, creating towering tsunamis.

At that moment, a green flash shot toward Yu Banruo's back.

"What?" Yu Banruo turned, unleashing a golden barrier.

"Slash!" Xiao Nanfeng roared.

A green blade cut through Yu Banruo's defense, sending him flying and causing him to cough up blood. Madam Rouge seized the opportunity to land another strike.

Caught off guard, Yu Banruo spat out more blood before steadying himself.

"Xiao Nanfeng, how have you grown so strong?!" Yu Banruo exclaimed.

"Yanzhi, watch our surroundings. I'll handle Yu Banruo," Xiao Nanfeng said. "I can sense lots of strong cultivators around, and possibly even saints. We can't get caught off-guard again."

"Why don't you let me handle Yu Banruo?" Madam Rouge asked worriedly.

"There's no need. I'll take care of him," Xiao Nanfeng insisted firmly.

Madam Rouge glanced around her. Indeed, there were many powerful cultivators lurking about who meant them ill, including a few saints. They could very well pose a critical threat at an opportune time. Someone would need to keep guard.

"Very well," Madam Rouge said, nodding.

She withdrew to guard the perimeter.

"You intend to fight me alone?" Yu Banruo asked incredulously.

"Out of respect for the Heavenly Emperor, I didn't want to be your enemy. But you've gone too far—sending assassins after me, targeting my wife, and trying to destroy my people. You are unfit to rule. For the sake of justice and vengeance, you will fall today!" Xiao Nanfeng declared.

He slashed downward with his divine undying blade.

Yu Banruo scoffed, meeting his attack with a golden blade of his own. "Fool! It's been less than half a month since I nearly crippled you. Do you really think you're my equal?"

Their blades clashed, generating fiery shockwaves that lit up the sky.

To Yu Banruo's shock, they were evenly matched.

"Impossible! Even with imperial might, you shouldn't have advanced this much!" Yu Banruo shouted.

The two cultivators continued to attack one another. The sky lit up in flashes of blue and gold.

The lurking spectators were all stunned.

"How has Xiao Nanfeng grown so powerful in just two weeks? Half a month ago, Yu Banruo almost destroyed him!"

Some harboring ill intentions thought to interfere, but held back under Madam Rouge's watchful gaze.

In the sky, the clash of the two cultivators' blades continued, each exchange shaking the heavens.

"Devour him," Yu Banruo commanded, as his golden blade emitted a bestial roar.

The blade's edge opened up. A maw filled with sharp teeth lunged forward to bite the divine undying blade.

"What? Yu Banruo's blade is alive. It's a cursed effigy!" someone shouted from afar.

Before Xiao Nanfeng could react, the divine undying blade trembled, revealing its own fanged maw. It lunged at the golden blade, biting back.

The two blades collided, their monstrous jaws tearing at each other amidst a fiery storm.

"What? Your blade is a cursed effigy too?!" Yu Banruo exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng's eye twitched. He had anticipated that his blade would awaken one day—but not like this, and certainly not now. The timing couldn't have been worse!