Chapter 369: Decisive Battle at Luoxing

Chapter 369: Decisive Battle at Luoxing

In his study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng was looking at a report as You Jiu stood beside him.

"The Tianshu Empire has placed a bounty on Mr. Wen, with any clue to his location rewarded with an Immortal relic..." Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "It looks like we were right, then. All this is Mr. Wen's doing."

"Nalan Qiankun's response surprised me. To think that he would reveal the truth about his deception with the spectral guards and push all the blame to Mr. Wen! He claimed that all this was a scheme that Mr. Wen devised, that all the Immortals are free to reclaim their relatives at any time," You Jiu said.

"It was the right decision."

"Oh?"

"If he hadn't admitted to the deception, the Immortals would remain unwilling to commit themselves to battle, and the Tianshu Empire would rapidly have fallen. Not only would he have lost his borders, he would even have lost his Immortal subordinates. Only by admitting to what he did, revealing the truth, and earnestly providing redress would he be able to retain some of their support," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Your Majesty, you once said that the Immortals had already lost their loyalty—that it would be difficult for Nalan Qiankun to regain it, and that those Immortals that rescued their families would be easily subverted by our faction. Doesn't Nalan Qiankun realize that?" You Jiu asked.

"He does, but he's chosen to discard all who would do so. Only those Immortals willing to ride out thick and thin with him will remain. He'll suffer tremendous losses—this is part of the genius of Mr. Wen's plan. There's no solution in which Nalan Qiankun doesn't lose out."

"Nalan Qiankun really was decisive, then. Could he be planning some counterattack? With this group of loyal subordinates, will he be able to turn the tables?" You Jiu frowned.

"Regardless of what he's planning, we'll have to claim as much of his territory now as we can. Inform Ye Sanshui to focus on bringing the Tianshu Immortals to our sides. We'll have great success, I imagine."

"Understood, Sir Xiao!" You Jiu nodded.

"In addition, have all the spectral guards search for Mr. Wen as well. Sacrifice whatever you need to ensure his safety."

"Understood!" You Jiu replied.

One month later, in the imperial study at Beidou, Marquis Su reported, "Your Majesty, it's been a month, but we still haven't received any news about Mr. Wen."

Nalan Qiankun said coldly, "As expected of Mr. Wen. If he wants to hide, no one can find him."

"A month ago, His Majesty treated everyone honestly and revealed how Mr. Wen schemed against him. The Immortals all fetched their families home, and Dazheng has been trying to turn them against the Tianshu Empire. As you expected, Your Majesty, about a third of the Immortals have turned traitor and sided with Dazheng, while another third left these lands with their families, supporting neither empire," Marquis Su reported.

Nalan Qiankun sucked in a deep breath. "It matters not. A third still remain."

"However, because of others' defection and betrayal, the Tianshu Empire's borders have shrunk massively over the past month. By now, the relative sizes of Tianshu and Dazheng have inverted. Dazheng now controls 70% of the land across the Eastern Sea, while Tianshu controls fewer than 30%," Marquis Su replied worriedly.

Nalan Qiankun continued coldly, "It matters not. The war between Tianshu and Dazheng is not solely reliant on the battlefield at large, but also between me and Xiao Nanfeng.

"Oh? Will you be breaking through shortly, Your Majesty?" Marquis Su asked curiously.

Just then, a huge boom came from the back of the palace. A massive aura rapidly suffused the palace, pressuring the countless cultivators within. The aura then spread throughout the city of Beidou; the whole city felt the mounting pressure.

"The aura of an Earth Immortal? Your Majesty, have you become an Earth Immortal?! Xiao Nanfeng's dead meat now!" Marquis Su smiled in exhilaration.

Cries rang out in the city of Luoxing as its defensive formation rapidly activated. Immortal after Immortal flew out to investigate the news.

"There are Immortals under cloud cover!"

"It's Nalan Qiankun! He's come with a group of Tianshu Immortals!"

"Inform the commander-in-chief immediately!"

The Immortals in the city were angry and fearful.

They didn't dare approach recklessly; rather, they flew toward the governor's manor. The Dazheng Immortals gathered outside the manor, Immortal weapons in hand, as they stood guard against the flying mob.

"Where's Xiao Nanfeng? Has he gathered all of you here so that I can send you all to your deaths at once?" Nalan Qiankun asked from high in the sky.

The Dazheng Immortals ignored Nalan Qiankun. Rather, they bowed toward a hall in the governor's manor, from which Xiao Nanfeng slowly emerged in golden draconic robes.

Xiao Nanfeng stood in the courtyard and stared up at the sky. "Nalan Qiankun, do you think it's impressive for you to have demolished a watchtower and frightened a few guards?"

Nalan Qiankun chuckled coldly. "Xiao Nanfeng, how bold of you to appear in front of me. I'd been intending to lure you out of Yongding. Do you want to die that badly?"

"I've been waiting for you for quite some time, but you were simply too slow. And it looks like you have a rather... limited... number of followers these days," Xiao Nanfeng commented.

"I discarded a few disloyal subordinates, but it doesn't seem like they're with you, either. You don't have many more than I do," Nalan Qiankun retorted.

"Far more than enough to deal with you," Xiao Nanfeng countered.

"Ha! Let's see what you have in store, then. What could empower you enough to dare to appear before me?" Nalan Qiankun asked, poised to make a move.

"Hold on!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"What's the matter? Are you afraid?" Nalan Qiankun sneered.

"No. Rather, I have a few distinguished guests that would like to be present for the show. I ask that you wait a moment so they won't miss out on the opening."

"Distinguished guests?"

"They're here." Xiao Nanfeng pointed at the horizon.

From the east came beams of light like shooting stars. Many were clad in the radiant aura of an Immortal. In the lead was none other than the Ascended division leader, Zhao Yuanjiao, and two men accompanied him. Even from afar, they were radiating with strength and clearly exceptional cultivators.

"The Heaven and Earth division leaders?" Nalan Qiankun exclaimed.

"Precisely. These are the distinguished guests I have invited here today. I intend to take down a traitor to the sect and need the four division leaders to bear witness," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

Nalan Qiankun's eyes grew cold.