Chapter 632: Yin Tiancis Death

Chapter 632: Yin Tianci's Death

Only after Xiao Nanfeng and the Martial Aspects had left did the skulking cultivators all around show themselves.

They too headed to the underground pit in search of treasure, but there was nothing to be found.

"There's nothing at all. Xiao Nanfeng must have taken everything. Something must have happened underground that we don't know anything about."

"To think even Yin Shenhua would perish at Xiao Nanfeng's hands... Xiao Nanfeng's far too vicious."

"Isn't it because he benefited from the Venerable Buddha's generosity?"

"That's already incredible enough. Didn't the Venerable Buddha fall, too?"

The cultivators sighed, but then they suddenly stopped short. They turned toward Dayin's capital.

By then, all the dust had settled, and Dayin's capital was revealed to one and all in full—what was left of it, at any rate. There was nothing remaining save a pile of ruins, not even the city walls.

"The divine empire of Dayin was among the largest in the world. Just a few months ago, it challenged the Imperial Court and its name echoed throughout the world. How could it have been defeated by an ordinary empire so utterly?" someone exclaimed.

Many cultivators were still in shock about what they had witnessed.

"Investigate," someone said. "Investigate how Xiao Nanfeng managed to destroy the divine empire of Dayin. I want to know everything he did in detail."

"Understood!"

Countless such orders were being passed down all over the world.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng's procession left Dayin's capital.

After ensuring that there was no longer anyone following them, Xiao Nanfeng immediately instructed one of his subordinates, "Use your avatar to tell Chang Bing to flee from the prisoner Yin Tianci immediately. Do not approach him. Stay far away until I get there."

"Understood!" the subordinate replied.

Not far away, Ao Canghai and the other Martial Aspects glanced at him in confusion, but Xiao Nanfeng didn't explain himself. He commanded his other subordinates, "Return to Yongding immediately. There may well be a sneak attack."

"Understood!" Croak, Warble, Ye Dafu and the others replied, then left with their subordinates.

Xiao Nanfeng continued flying toward the Imperial Court with the other Martial Aspects. Along the way, some tried to ask him how he had defeated Yin Shenhua, but he refused to provide any details.

"Xiao Nanfeng, what manner of natural law did you invoke to break out of Yin Shenhua's captivity?" Ao Canghai asked.

"I don't know. The Venerable Buddha did it," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Ao Canghai frowned. He sensed that Xiao Nanfeng wasn't telling the truth, but had no means of exposing him.

In the end, he chose not to continue with that line of questioning. The procession flew for two whole days before they arrived at the eastern gate to the Sieve of Heaven.

The Martial Aspects were welcomed by the guards as soon as they arrived.

"Congratulations on defeating the divine empire of Dayin," the guards chorused.

Ao Canghai nodded coolly.

The guards then ignored Ao Canghai and praised Xiao Nanfeng. "Martial Aspect Xiao, it's amazing that you were able to defeat Yin Shenhua like that!"

"Everyone played a role. I was simply lucky. How did you come to learn of what happened in Dayin?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

He rushed into the manor.

Chang Bing and the others followed swiftly behind him. They quickly ended up in a huge hall, the center of which was a furnace. Beside the furnace was a rack on which Yin Tianci was bound, though he no longer drew breath.

"Yin Tianci's cultivation was completely sealed. His eyes have been shut and he hasn't been communicative over this period of time. When I received word from you, Division Leader, I rushed back to check on him and was preparing to evacuate everyone when I discovered that he was dead," Chang Bing reported.

Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to investigate Yin Tianci's body. Indeed, Yin Tianci was dead, but there were no visible wounds anywhere to be seen.

"We've checked his body, but can't determine his cause of death," Chang Bing said.

Xiao Nanfeng attempted to examine Yin Tianci's body several times with spiritual power, only to discover that it contained no cursed spiritual power at all. The golden lotus hood he had once seen on Yin Tianci's body had vanished as well.

Xiao Nanfeng blanched. "Is everyone responsible for guarding Yin Tianci present? Have them report to me."

Chang Bing nodded. Though he didn't understand what was going on, he rushed to get everyone.

"Junior Brother Qingmei is gone. Everyone else is accounted for," Chang Bing reported.

Xiao Nanfeng investigated the Earth disciples arrayed before him. There were no abnormalities.

"Where's Qingmei?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Qingmei rushed out of the manor just now. We don't know where he went," Chang Bing replied.

"Did you all hear about what happened in Dayin's capital?"

"We did. We were all outside listening to the news. A junior brother's avatar was present and told us what was going on.

"When Yin Shenhua perished, where was Qingmei?"

Chang Bing thought for a moment. "We were all outside, so he must have been the only one guarding Yin Tianci here."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"I remember that when we told Junior Brother Qingmei of the news, he was abnormally silent. He hung his head and left. Then, he went missing. Before long, you sent us a message telling us to avoid Yin Tianci, and that was when we found out that he had died."

"So that's what happened," Xiao Nanfeng said, lowering his head.

"Division Leader, could Qingmei have killed Yin Tianci?" Chang Bing asked.

"No. Rather, Qingmei's likely dead," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Indeed?"

"I suspect he's been possessed by a cursed effigy." Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. He commanded Chang Bing, "Find out where Qingmei is. Hurry!"

He didn't explain that Yin Shenhua had ended up in Yin Tianci's body, given up on it, possessed Qingmei, and departed. He was worried that it would cause undue commotion.

The Earth disciples rushed off in search of Qingmei.

Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Ao Zhou, you boast the ancestral dragon's techniques, and have considerable strength. To prevent anything untoward from happening, I need you to guard my manor for the time being. I'm going to seek an audience with the Heavenly Emperor."

"Aren't you going to wait for Ao Canghai to finish his report first?" Ao Zhou asked.

"There's no time to waste. The Heavenly Emperor gave me permission to meet with him directly if there's any urgent business. This affair is too time-sensitive for me to go through the usual procedure. Guard this place for me," Xiao Nanfeng repeated, then rushed straight toward Mt. Kunlun.

Yin Shenhua had to be incredibly weak for the time being. If he were able to possess Qingmei, then he would surely have been able to possess other cultivators along the way as well. Only by doing so several times would he be able to shake off any pursuit. If he were to flee, he would pose incredible danger to the world. The best strategy for finding him had to be asking for Yu Fuli's help.