Wayfarer

Chapter 478: Becoming the Earth Division Leader

Within Yongding's palace in the empire of Dazheng, a blood peach tree steadily sprouted.

"A blood peach tree!" Xiao Nanfeng's avatar exclaimed.

Madam Rouge nodded. "This is one of my subordinates who died in battle in the past and has yet to regenerate, but can latently convert the dead into nutrients. I suppose I'll leave it with you for the moment."

"So it can form blood peaches from the corpses and carcasses of strong cultivators, like the Peach Buddha used to?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up.

"That's right. I suppose I'll help you out for the time being."

"My gratitude. I'm in great need of this ability." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Of course, I'm not doing all this for free," Madam Rouge suddenly warned.

"What's the cost?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"Those songs you've been singing to me, I forbid you from singing to others."

"Ah? Is that it?" Xiao Nanfeng gave her a nonplussed look.

"Well? Are you unwilling?"

"Of course I'm willing! I'm not crazy. No one else is ever going to hear me sing," Xiao Nanfeng said immediately.

"Good. I'm off now, then." Madam Rouge slowly walked up to Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng sensed a pleasant aroma as she drew near. Was Madam Rouge going to kiss him goodbye? She was getting far too close!

Suddenly, she extended a delicate finger and placed it under Xiao Nanfeng's jaw.

"What now?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"Remember, next time, I expect a new song." Madam Rouge winked and flicked his jaw up, causing Xiao Nanfeng to shiver. Was she teasing him?

Then, Madam Rouge vanished from sight, leaving just a snatch of laughter like tinkling bells behind.

"You're running away after teasing me like that? Stay right here if you dare! Next time, I'll have you sing for me instead!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.

However, Madam Rouge had already vanished, and her tinkling laughter with her.

Xiao Nanfeng sighed, then chuckled in exasperation.

He glanced at the blood peach tree before him, then walked away.

"Guards, establish a formation here and guard this area. No one is to draw near!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

A guard stepped forward and bowed. "Understood!"

"Your Majesty, this plot of land is yet unnamed. The craftsmen have been asked multiple times what to inscribe it as," another guard volunteered.

"Call it the 'Peach Orchard'," Xiao Nanfeng declared.

"Understood!" the guard replied.

Xiao Nanfeng then walked toward his study, only to find a group of Taiqing disciples awaiting him there.

"Division Leader Xiao, Division Leader Zhao had us come to send word that the sect master has arrived on Taiqing Island. Please return at your convenience."

"I understand. Return and tell my senior brother that the Heaven division leader, Zhang Feifan, will likely arrive within two days. I shall handle administrative matters here and arrive then as well. We can convene then."

"Understood!" the Taiqing disciples replied.

Two days later, Xiao Nanfeng arrived on Taiqing Island.

Where he went, the Taiqing disciples bowed down to him. He remained modest, smiling and nodding at any who greeted him, causing them to flush and murmur excitedly to one another.

In Taiqing Hall, the sect master of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, Lu Yan, stood with hands clasped behind his back. By his side were Zhang Feifan, Zhao Yuanjiao, and Ye Dafu, along with Chang Bing and other Earth division disciples who had rushed back from the Immortal city of Fengdu.

Zhang Feifan seemed to be recounting some events to Lu Yan as his brows furrowed.

When Ye Dafu noticed that Xiao Nanfeng had arrived, he immediately stepped forward and reported to him, "Your Majesty, Blue Lantern has returned to Yongding for the time being. Division Leader Zhang had me wait here for you. He said that there were matters to be discussed."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and stepped into Taiqing Hall.

"I greet the sect master, my senior brother, and Division Leader Zhang." Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow.

"Xiao Nanfeng, has your avatar reached True Yin too?" Lu Yin exclaimed curiously.

"Not just yet. This avatar of mine is a little special, but he should be reaching that realm soon as well."

Xiao Nanfeng's avatar cultivated both the Taiqing red moon and Shangqing blue moon. The double moons left his avatar somewhat sinister-looking, but he wasn't in a rush. He could sense that a breakthrough was imminent.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you're cultivating far too quickly." Lu Yan smiled.

"It's just a matter of luck," Xiao Nanfeng replied modestly.

Lu Yan nodded with a smile before he turned serious again. He sighed. "I just received word of Lan Jiguang's demise."

"Just like my master, Senior Uncle Lan perished within the red moon illusory realm and transformed into a red-furred lifeform. There's still a chance he might regain his wits," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"You're quite right, but there's only a minuscule chance of that happening. We'll have to keep working hard to revive the Taiqing Immortal Sect so we can delve more deeply into the red moon illusory realm and rescue Lan Jiguang and the others." Lu Yan nodded.

"That day will come," Xiao Nanfeng said resolutely.

Everyone nodded seriously.

"That said, he won't be able to return in the short term, and the Earth division can't be without a division leader. I've convened everyone here and summoned the strongest disciples of each division to discuss this affair."

"Understood, Sect Master!" everyone chorused.

Lu Yan turned to Chang Bing. "Chang Bing, you're Lan Jiguang's official apprentice, and he once praised your incredible aptitude. He has invested much effort into your training. Will you now shoulder the heavy mantle of the Earth division leader?"

Chang Bing gave Lu Yan a glance fraught with emotion. In the past, he would have accepted the title with pride, but his experience in Fengdu made him realize that his aptitude and skills were nothing more than a joke compared to Xiao Nanfeng.

"Sect Master, before Master passed, he made plans for the division," ChangBing began.

"Oh?" Lu Yan glanced at him in surprise, as did everyone gathered.

"Master said that, before his return, Xiao Nanfeng would be in charge of the Earth division and the Green Battalion. He passed his charms and tokens of identification to him."

Xiao Nanfeng immediately said, "That was an emergency. We're not in Fengdu any longer, and that command has now been nullified."

Chang Bing shook his head. "That was Master's command and the will of the Earth division. I'm afraid I'm far too unskilled compared to Division Leader Xiao, and I don't want Master's efforts with the Earth division to go to waste because of me. Please, Division Leader Xiao."

Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng said, "You need not be overly worried. We're all Taiqing disciples, and I'll do my best to help out the Earth division disciples where possible. However, I'm already the Mortal division leader. Surely I can't take on both duties?"

By his side, Zhang Feifan suddenly said, "Perhaps it is possible."

"Oh?" Everyone now turned to Zhang Feifan.

"Xiao Nanfeng, although you might be the Mortal division leader, I heard that many of your responsibilities are delegated to Ye Dafu. In other words, Ye Dafu could take over as Mortal division leader on your behalf. It has already risen to its prime, and needs little active upkeep on your part. You could easily pass on your responsibilities to Ye Dafu. On the other hand, the budding pillmasters and forgemasters of the Earth division are all talents that will need a careful hand for their development. Since Lan Jiguang has appointed you as division leader in his absence, you could give up your position as Mortal division leader for one as Earth division leader," Zhang Feifan concluded.

"You want me to transfer divisions?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"This is the best outcome." Zhao Yuanjiao nodded as well.

"We would be more than happy to accept Division Leader Xiao as our new division leader!" Chang Bing and the gathered Earth division disciples cried out.

Everyone turned to Lu Yan.

Lu Yan considered the situation. Xiao Nanfeng's master was from the Ascended division. He had taken over the Ascended division, then the Mortal division, and was now primed for the Earth division. He was acknowledged by the disciples of the sect to such an extent that he was almost comparable to him, the sect master himself.

However, Lu Yan was no man easily brought to jealousy. He took a deep breath. "I heard Zhang Feifan claim that Ye Dafu is already a Heaven Immortal and can easily take on the responsibilities of that station. Division Leader Xiao, I approve of this plan."

Lu Yan had agreed to Xiao Nanfeng being the Earth division leader as well.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at everyone before he finally nodded. "Very well. In that case, I shall serve as the Earth division leader in the interim, and Ye Dafu as the Mortal division leader."

"Understood!" Ye Dafu accepted immediately.

"We greet Division Leader Xiao!" Chang Bing and the other Earth division disciples cried out.

What Xiao Nanfeng had done in Fengdu had won the admiration of the entire cohort of Earth division disciples. They were also aware of what Ye Dafu had been like before joining Xiao Nanfeng. Since then, he had ascended all the way to Heaven Immortal. As such, the Earth division disciples were very excited as to how they would grow under Xiao Nanfeng's supervision.

Over the next two days, Xiao Nanfeng underwent a whirlwind ceremony to instate him in his new position as Ye Dafu became the Mortal division leader.

Once everything was settled, Lu Yan rushed off from Taiqing Island.

After seeing Lu Yan off, Xiao Nanfeng asked Zhang Feifan, "The sect master is gone from the sect more often than not. Where is he off to now?"

"He's been investigating a hidden realm, the details of which are not known to me. Allegedly, it's of particular importance for reviving the Taiqing sect."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded, though with some remnant confusion.

"Has your main body reached the Imperial Court?" Zhang Feifan then asked.

"It just arrived."

"Really? Wait for me there. I'm about to return myself."

"I'll have Chang Bing and the others accompany you."

"Oh?"

"The princess told me that Chang Bing and the others could serve as my guards in the Imperial Court, and I'm familiar with them. It'll be more convenient that way. Will you guide them there?" Xiao Nanfeng asked with a smile.

"Very well. I'll bring them with me."

"My thanks."

Zhang Feifan nodded, not thinking much of it.

Xiao Nanfeng gathered Chang Bing and the others, gave them specific instructions, and saw them off with Zhang Feifan. Then, he chatted with Zhao Yuanjiao for a while before returning to court to handle administrative matters.