Wayfarer

Chapter 577: Catch a Golden Immortal for Cultivation

In Dazheng's imperial study at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he talked with Emperor Feng. "Symbiosis? Do you know just how strong Yin Shenhua is? Do you stand any chance of winning against him?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Tell me what you saw when you entered Thunderclap Hall," Emperor Feng said again.

Xiao Nanfeng described what he had seen in Thunderclap Hall.

Emperor Feng considered the situation for a moment. "In other words, only you and Yin Shenhua were present within Thunderclap Hall when Yin Shenhua cast a secret technique to bring you into the illusory realm?"

"Right. He has my consciousness trapped there and is attempting to hypnotize me."

"Can you sense your physical body?" Emperor Feng asked.

"I can. It's been untouched, and Dayin hasn't convened any sessions of court over the last few days. I doubt there's been any change to the situation within the hall," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Emperor Feng was silent for a moment. "What a golden opportunity."

Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. "Are you still intending to strike at him?"

"Think of a way to summon Zhao Yuanjiao into the Thunderclap Hall. I'll sneak in then and make my move while you and Zhao Yuanjiao are in Yin Shenhua's illusory realm."

"You make it sound easy, but don't you think Yin Shenhua can operate in both the physical and illusory realms at will? If he finishes you off, my senior brother will be done for as well. He's already safely out of the capital of Dayin by now. If he returns now, he'll be risking his life!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"I've bolstered Zhao Yuanjiao's cultivation, so it doesn't matter where he's hiding. He'll have to pay a commensurate price for what I've given him," Emperor Feng replied.

Even if Emperor Feng wasn't phrasing things in the form of commands, that was clearly his intention. If Xiao Nanfeng refused, Emperor Feng surely wouldn't give up, and Zhao Yuanjiao wouldn't be able to escape from his machinations, either.

"Let me think about how to proceed," Xiao Nanfeng replied, frowning.

"Good, good. Don't worry. I'll repay you for what you've done," Emperor Feng replied, smiling.

"However, I'll need you to do something for me for the time being."

"Oh?"

"There are cultivators from Dayin here in Yongding, and a particularly strong one is keeping an eye on me. Please deal with them on my behalf."

"I'm surprised Yin Shenhua hasn't already made a move on your avatar."

"They tried to barge in, but I managed to escape. They grew more cautious after failing several times," Xiao Nanfeng replied confidently.

"Oh? You can escape from a Golden Immortal's hands?" Emperor Feng exclaimed.

He had noticed that there were Golden Immortal spies around Yongding when he arrived, but he didn't expect that they had already made a move. He was very curious as to just how Xiao Nanfeng had avoided them.

"If you'd like to learn of the details, I'd be happy to discuss them with you once you deal with them. I'll also pledge my full support to helping you handle Yin Shenhua."

"Very good! Let me have a try, then."

"They have avatars and can report to Yin Shenhua in real time. You had better not reveal your appearance to them. Strike fast, quickly, and lethally. I recommend disguising yourself as a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court to surprise Yin Shenhua a little."

"I understand."

"Once you leave, my subordinates will help you pinpoint their whereabouts. There should be a sole Golden Immortal. Please leave the Golden Immortal alive."

"I came here with a task for you, but I've become a helper for you instead. Xiao Nanfeng, if you don't make good on your promises later, you'd better watch out," Emperor Feng warned.

Half a day later, within the Thunderclap Hall of Dayin's capital, a golden-armored cultivator strode up right outside the hall and shouted, "Immortal Emperor, something has happened in Yongding!"

"What is it?" Yin Shenhua called back.

"The cultivators that were dispatched to conduct surveillance on Xiao Nanfeng's avatar have perished to the last, as have the spies that the prime minister initially sent," the golden-armored cultivator reported.

"Hmm?"

"We had six hideouts from which our cultivators operated, but they were all attacked simultaneously. No one got free. One of the cultivators reported hearing, 'Martial Aspect, don't spare any of them!' before perishing."

"Was no one left alive?" Yin Shenhua demanded.

"None. All the cultivators with avatars said that their avatars had been killed. Sage Blue Lion, who was part of the surveillance, does not have a clone. We don't know what his situation is."

A burst of killing intent emanated from the Thunderclap Hall. Yin Shenhua was silent for long moments before he finally commanded, "Send more cultivators to spy on Yongding. Figure out which Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court dared to ruin my plans."

"Understood!" the golden-armored cultivator shouted.

Within the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm in Yongding, Emperor Feng considered his surroundings curiously. "Is this the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm, then? How lucky you are to have obtained this treasure. No wonder you were able to escape from a Golden Immortal unscathed."

"I'll have to thank you for actually taking that Golden Immortal down as well," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

A golden bowl was upturned not too far away, with an internal space within that trapped a blue-robed man. The man was pounding furiously on the golden bowl, causing it to shake violently, but was unable to free himself.

"Sage Blue Lion is an early-stage Golden Immortal. Without me, he would have devoured Yongding sooner or later. What's the point of leaving him alive?"

"To help me beat up a few cultivators," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Beat up a few cultivators?" Emperor Feng wondered if he had misheard.

"Right. I want him to beat them up." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at Ye Dafu and the other cultivators close by.

Emperor Feng was taken aback. What? These cultivators were clearly Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates. Was he trying to punish them? What was Xiao Nanfeng thinking?

"Aren't you going to greet Emperor Feng?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

Ye Dafu and the others quickly walked forward and bowed. "We greet Emperor Feng!"

"Are they really your subordinates? Why would you have Sage Blue Lion beat them up?" Emperor Feng still seemed confused.

Ye Dafu, not far away, begged, "Emperor Feng, please let me into that golden bowl and have Sage Blue Lion give me a good beating!"

"No, me first! Let me test out how strong he is for everyone?"

"Nonsense—we'll head in together and share this prize among all of us!"

"Right, a Golden Immortal should be strong enough to play with for quite a while. I've been far too pent up lately!"

The golden cultivators rushed to be the first ones into the golden bowl.

Emperor Feng fell silent. He thought to himself, "Just who are these perverse cultivators?"

"Xiao Nanfeng, your subordinates are all only Heaven Immortals. Wouldn't it be dangerous to have them face a cultivator two whole realms higher than they are?"

"It's alright. Please let them in," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Emperor Feng was silent for a moment. Though he didn't understand what was going on, he didn't refuse Xiao Nanfeng. With a wave of his hand, all the cultivators were sent into the golden bowl.

As they entered, Sage Blue Lion roared in anger and shot toward them.

The twelve cultivators smiled in glee as they rushed into the bowl.

Emperor Feng was taken aback. Was he mistaken? Weren't they Heaven Immortals?

Ye Dafu was the first to be struck by a fist. He was sent flying as he spat out a mouthful of blood, his chest caving in.

Emperor Feng gaped. What? That cultivator had been beaten within an inch of his life the moment he entered! Were they that weak?

The other cultivators were sent flying in a series of consecutive punches. They slumped to the ground, all bleeding profusely. The only oddity was that their skin had turned gold; there were twelve golden cultivators in all scattered across the ground.

Emperor Feng frowned. Was this a prank of some sort?

"Quick, bring them out!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted immediately.

Emperor Feng waved a hand to free them.

The cultivators hurriedly began to meditate. Within two hours, they had recovered.

"Xiao Nanfeng, what are you doing?" Emperor Feng was incredibly confused by then.

The next moment, he grew even more shocked. The twelve golden cultivators were standing up.

"Ah, that was comfortable! Again! I want to be beaten again!"

"It's been too long since I had such a good beating."

"Send me back in!"

The twelve golden cultivators looked expectantly at Emperor Feng.

Emperor Feng: ...

"Please send them back in," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Emperor Feng still didn't quite understand what was happening, but he did as instructed.

Sage Blue Lion was confused as well. Were these twelve golden cultivators mad? What were they doing back here?

Sage Blue Lion roared. His head morphed into that of a lion as he gulped down all twelve cultivators.

Within the golden bowl, as without, silence reigned.

"Your subordinates have all been eaten!" Emperor Feng cried out. Just what was Xiao Nanfeng trying to pull?

"Don't worry. Just wait patiently," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Emperor Feng: ...

Why did everything suddenly seem so sinister?

Not too long afterwards, Sage Blue Lion suddenly blanched. His face twitched as he clapped a hand around his stomach in pain.

"Don't kick my stomach! Damn it, my intestines!" Sage Blue Lion howled.

After a few long moments, he finally spat them out of his body. The twelve golden cultivators were drenched in stomach acid.

Their bodies were turning purple all over and their heads swelling like pigs'. They spat out mouthfuls of blood, as though they had been compressed violently within Sage Blue Lion's digestive system.

"Your Majesty, I can't take it much longer!"

"I might explode if this keeps up!"

The golden cultivators wailed in pain.

"Please bring them out, Emperor Feng," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Emperor Feng frowned again as he did so, rescuing them from the bowl.

The twelve cultivators crumpled to the ground, paralyzed. Emperor Feng could tell that many of them had even had their bones crushed.

They arduously circulated their cultivation technique to heal themselves as their bodies glowed with golden light.

After four hours, Ye Dafu was the first to wake up. He exhaled deeply. "Your Majesty, I'm about to break through. I'm going to undergo my tribulation!"

"Go!" Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Understood!"

Ye Dafu rushed into the distance as dark clouds gathered around him.

"The True Immortal tribulation? These cultivators—don't tell me they can advance by receiving beatings!" Emperor Feng exclaimed.