Chapter 405: Huo Qing
With the Immortal city of Fengdu in lockdown, the Goat Yanluo was trapped outside the city.
Xiao Nanfeng held on tightly as he awaited the reinforcements sent by the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. When he was free, he flipped through several of the ancient tomes in Fengdu, hoping to find some records about the infernal abyss—but nothing was forthcoming.
Just then, Ye Dafu walked into the hall and bowed. "Your Majesty, someone has arrived outside the city, proclaiming himself to be the new acting city lord, with an edict of appointment from the Immortal Emperor of Dayin. He's making a fuss about wanting to enter the city."
"Oh? Is the edict real?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.
"Chang Bing personally inspected it, as did several officials responsible for this sort of thing."
"Lead the way." Xiao Nanfeng put down the ancient records in his hands.
"Understood!"
Xiao Nanfeng quickly arrived at the southern gates.
Although the gates were open, the defensive formation had erected a translucent golden barrier around the city that prevented anyone outside from entering.
A hulking man stood outside the barrier, sideburns and a thick beard on his face. He wore a suit of armor and exuded a martial aura.
"Let me through this barrier," the hulking man demanded.
The barrier prevented passage in and out, but sound could still be heard across it.
An official within the city said, "City Lord Xiao, the edict of appointment he displayed looks to be real."
"Show me the edict!" Xiao Nanfeng said.
The hulking man pulled out an edict. "The Immortal Emperor himself appointed me the acting city lord of Fengdu. This is the edict of appointment."
He unfurled the edict. There was an imperial seal on it that gave off a draconic aura; it didn't look fake.
Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "This edict states that your name is Huo Qing. Why are you the one presenting this edict to me alone? Where's the rest of your party?"
Huo Qing fumed. "My main body was busy dealing with other affairs that day, so my avatar and a group of officials headed to Fengdu first. Unexpectedly, we saw Qu Jianfeng on the road along the way. Thinking that he was the real Qu Jianfeng, I grew incautious. He suddenly struck, restraining my avatar and the other officials that accompanied my avatar. He arranged for his cursed effigies to possess us. The other officials were all possessed, while I had my avatar self-destruct to avoid that fate."
"The city guards must have told you that the cursed king, the Goat Yanluo, is currently at a villa outside the city," Xiao Nanfeng said.
"I'm aware. I don't intend to leave it be. Let me in now and hand me the city lord's seal. I'm going to use Fengdu's formations to deal with it!" Huo Qing exclaimed.
"Prepare to activate the city's siege formations!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.
"Who dares? His Majesty has appointed me the acting city lord of Fengdu. If you dare attack me, you'll be rebelling against Dayin! Do you want to die?!"
The guards were momentarily at a loss for what to do.
"Huo Qing, I've already explained the situation. For the good of the people of Fengdu, I can't deactivate this barrier. Why are you so insistent? It would be better if you were to return and inform the Immortal Emperor of Dayin of the news immediately so that more reinforcements can be sent to clear out the cursed effigies. You're a Heaven Immortal and will be far faster than my messenger—you might even get there in advance. Why make a scene right here?"
"How could I allow a mistake like this to occur on my watch when I haven't even taken office yet? I'd be reprimanded for poor governance.I'll have to take down these cursed effigies as quickly as possible in order to earn enough merit to counteract that negligence. Xiao Nanfeng, if you prevent me from doing so, you'll be my enemy. You'll pay for it once I break through this defensive formation."
At a villa in the distance, the Goat Yanluo watched Huo Qing battering down the formation with a smile. "To think assistance would appear out of thin air."
"King, should we head over?" a cursed effigy asked politely.
"Go. Once Huo Qing breaks the formation, sneak into the city and then devour all the people within," the Goat Yanluo said.
"Understood!" The cursed effigies all snuck over.
Afar, atop the watchtower, Xiao Nanfeng's face turned cold. "Huo Qing, if you remain this stubborn, don't blame me for not holding back."
"What can you do? I learned of the situation in Fengdu just now. You might be able to bully the commanders within the city, but you were no match for that Heaven Immortal called Yin. Do you think you can take me on? Try me, then!" Huo Qing exclaimed.
Without any hesitation, Huo Qing struck the formation with his sword once again. He intended to break into the city and reclaim the power and authority that was rightfully his.
The sword struck the barrier with devastating force, causing it to shake. A small crack could be seen on its surface.
Xiao Nanfeng's eyes turned frosty. He couldn't allow Huo Qing to continue destroying the formation. His hand swiped across the air. The longsword in Huo Qing's hand vanished and appeared within his.
"What? Impossible. How did you manage to bring my Immortal sword within?!"
The Goat Yanluo, watching from afar, frowned. "What a strange technique. How did he manage to bypass the barrier? That should be impossible!"
Xiao Nanfeng didn't explain what he had done. He shouted, "Ye Dafu, go handle the defensive formation around the city. Ready the siege formations as well. If Huo Qing dares attack the barrier around Fengdu, strike him dead!"
"Understood!" Ye Dafu and his lackeys replied.
"Are all of you trying to rebel?!" Huo Qing howled.
"We're not from Dayin to begin with. What would we be rebelling against? Step forward if you dare!" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.
Huo Qing's face twisted in a snarl. Did he really have no recourse against Xiao Nanfeng?