Chapter 163: Reappearance of the Red Rope

Chapter 163: Reappearance of the Red Rope

"Senior Brother Qi?"

"Senior Brother Qi's the official apprentice of the division leader, and he's monstrously strong."

"I always thought that he would be the next seniormost Ascended. This should be an interesting fight."

The disciples whispered to one another. It was clear that this Senior Brother Qi was a name known to one and all.

"Of course, Junior Brother!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Senior Brother Qi flashed a brief smile. "We haven't yet fought, and who is to be the seniormost disciple hasn't yet been decided. Don't you think you're being a little too hasty, Junior Brother Xiao?"

"Actions speak louder than words," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.

"On expeditions against foreign enemies, a fist technique need not be the crux to victory. In many circumstances, a treasure or relic will have decisive impact. Do you agree?"

"What are you trying to get at?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"With my master here, and various junior and senior disciples gathered, I'd like to clarify things in advance in case others challenge me for being underhanded later," Senior Brother Qi replied, smiling.

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"I intend to use a treasure. Be careful," Senior Brother Qi replied.

"A treasure?" The disciples all around were astounded.

Wasn't Senior Brother Qi aware that Xiao Nanfeng was in possession of the Immortal's Destruction? The other disciples had chosen to fight with solely their fist techniques to avoid him winning with the advanced treasures in his possession. What was Senior Brother Qi intending to do...?

"A treasure? You may try it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Senior Brother Qi retrieved a wooden box, one which caught everyone's attention.

"Just now, the seniormost Mortal disciple Nalan Feng lent me this treasure," Senior Brother Qi explained.

Everyone fell silent, then turned to Nalan Feng in surprise. What pettiness!

Nalan Feng froze stiffly, not expecting that Junior Brother Qi would divulge his identity and reveal his pettiness for everyone to see.

Junior Brother Qi eyed Nalan Feng. "Thank you for the loan of your treasure, Senior Brother."

Upon hearing from Nalan Feng that this treasure would render Xiao Nanfeng unconscious for a year, Junior Brother Qi had been preparing this contingency. He knew that Zhao Yuanjiao and Elder Ku would surely make life difficult for him while Xiao Nanfeng remained unconscious, and he had no intention of taking responsibility for this. He simply wanted the benefits of winning.

Nalan Feng, having guessed Junior Brother Qi's intentions, realized that he had been duped. Even so, under the crowd's watchful gaze, he could hardly do anything but reveal an embarrassed smile.

"Junior Brother Xiao, I'm going to get started," Senior Brother Qi announced, smiling.

Xiao Nanfeng gave him a strange look. This was a rather malicious—no, a rather foolish—disciple, wasn't he? His actions would only offend both his backers and Nalan Feng. Even if he were to win, no one would think highly of him.

"Come, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied breezily.

Zhao Tianheng raised an eyebrow at Nalan Feng. "Nalan Feng, have you subdued this treasure?"

Considering Nalan Feng's status, Zhao Tianheng didn't point out that this was a cursed effigy. Rather, he was asking obliquely if the cursed effigy would kill Xiao Nanfeng.

"There's no need to worry, Division Leader Zhao. I've subdued this treasure, and it listens to my commands. You can think of it like an Immortal-restraining rope," Nalan Feng explained.

"An Immortal-restraining rope?" The disciples all around him glanced at the red hemisphere curiously.

This rope didn't seem like an Immortal-restraining rope, which had to be controlled with mantras...

The next moment, the red rope had swum over to Xiao Nanfeng's side and coiled around him.

Xiao Nanfeng's physical body began to flare with flame. The three suns within his body, sensing the imminent danger, automatically released their energy to protect their master. Flaming waves of energy surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, forcing the closest disciples to retreat.

"Xiao Nanfeng's qi barrier is particularly potent!"

"The seniormost disciple's barrier is really impressive!"

Many disciples praised Xiao Nanfeng's strength, but the red rope didn't seem afraid of the flames. It formed a lasso around his neck and drew taut, distorting the flaming barrier of qi, which shrank to protect Xiao Nanfeng's neck. The lasso grew tighter and tighter as the qi by Xiao Nanfeng's neck fought valiantly to protect him.

One end of the red rope rose into the air, pulling Xiao Nanfeng's body upward.

Everyone's eyes widened in alarm—it looked as though Xiao Nanfeng was committing suicide before their eyes.

"Is this cursed effigy trying to kill Xiao Nanfeng?!" Zhao Yuanjiao cried out, stepping forward.

"Step down, Zhao Yuanjiao! If you disrupt their illusory confrontation by force, you might very well hurt both disciples," Zhao Tianheng shouted.

"Uncle, that's a cursed effigy, one that can kill others!"

"Nalan Feng has confirmed that he has subdued that red rope, and it won't kill Xiao Nanfeng. Back down. If Xiao Nanfeng is in life-threatening danger, I'll step in myself," Zhao Tianheng replied coolly.

Zhao Yuanjiao was frustrated. He was certain that something was amiss, but Zhao Tianheng was clearly siding with Senior Brother Qi. He couldn't do anything, because he couldn't prove that Xiao Nanfeng was indeed in life-threatening danger.

Not far away, Nalan Feng smirked to himself. He wouldn't kill Xiao Nanfeng, certainly, but wounding his spiritual avatar and forcing him into a coma for a year or so was a trifling affair. He was confident in the red rope's strength.

The plaza was silent as everyone watched the fight play out with bated breath.

Within the illusion, Xiao Nanfeng frowned. What he saw after passing through the fog wasn't just the red rope and Senior Brother Qi, but also Madam Rouge as well.

Madam Rouge had torn off half of Senior Brother Qi's body and swallowed it, leaving half of his body remaining. Unable to escape from the illusory realm, Senior Brother Qi cried out in fear.

"Save me, Senior Brother Xiao! Save me!" Senior Brother Qi panicked.

However, Xiao Nanfeng ignored Senior Brother Qi. He looked toward Madam Rouge, understanding that he was likely no match for her as is without calling on the power of his own cursed effigies.

"What horrible luck. This Nalan Feng must be crazy to use a cursed effigy on me. Madam Rouge's going to gain a windfall again," Xiao Nanfeng cursed.

Xiao Nanfeng schooled his features and hid his inner thoughts. He smiled in a friendly manner. "Madam Rouge, look! I've brought you another cursed spiritual avatar, a feast! I hope you enjoy your meal and will take this as a sign of my dedication to you!"

Madam Rouge glanced disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng, forming words with her signature black smoke. "Liar. I can see your fight taking place in the plaza in physical reality. You're trying to trick me."

Xiao Nanfeng: ...