Chapter 646: Criticism Before Praise

Chapter 646: Criticism Before Praise

Within the Palace of the Moon, the praying mat lay forlorn in a pavilion, with cold wind blowing by. It had been abandoned once more.

Beside the pavilion was Zhang Lingjun's bedroom, sealed with countless formations.

Within, Xiao Nanfeng had his arms draped around Zhang Lingjun. He crooned, "A Golden Immortal's physique is truly incredible. You can even overwhelm me in bed now."

Zhang Lingjun blushed and pounded on Xiao Nanfeng's chest. "No more of this cultivation talk!"

Xiao Nanfeng laughed. "Alright, alright, I'll stop."

"Should I really not learn these loss chants?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"Why would you?"

"With the praying mat's assistance, my loss chants might be even stronger than usual. What's more, they can help boost my spiritual cultivation too. Isn't it a good deal?"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You're already cultivating quickly enough. I don't want you to take the risk."

"Is it risky?"

"I don't know. I told the Heaven disciples about my worries. and they chose to attune to these loss chants themselves. As for you, I don't want to experiment with you. Even the tiniest hint of danger is too much for me."

"Very well," Zhang Lingjun said, her heart oozing with sweetness. "I'll listen to you." She lay in Xiao Nanfeng's embrace. Then, moments later, she asked, "Have you not broken through recently?"

"I've advanced significantly, but I'm still far from my next breakthrough. We haven't been cultivating together for long, so it's only to be expected. Let's not get hasty."

"No one's asking about that!" Zhang Lingjun blushed again. "Will it be troublesome for you to accompany me daily?"

"That's my most important task at the moment. I haven't forgotten about my other responsibilities, but they're largely being handled by my avatar. The investigation within the Imperial Court is still in progress as well."

Zhang Lingjun smiled fondly. "Has anything come out of the investigation into the Demon Child?"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Demon Child was taken advantage of."

"By whom?"

"We don't know yet, but the motive likely has to do with the upcoming Martial Aspect selection."

"Could one of Ao Canghai's confidantes be responsible, then? Is he trying to sour the relationship between you and the Demon Child so as to incite him to take revenge on your candidates during the selection?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "If only it were so straightforward."

"Oh?"

"The selection starts in two days. We can watch the upcoming spectacle together," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.

Zhang Lingjun nodded firmly.

Two days later, in the Sieve of Heaven's violet drill grounds, a forested area surrounded by a large-scale barrier of violet light, the vast majority of the Imperial Court's Martial Aspects had gathered to witness the selection of five new Martial Aspects in the Eastern Quadrant.

Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun and Ao Zhou were at the scene alongside Ye Dafu and his crew of golden cultivators.

"Wasn't the plan to have Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and the others participate? Why are none of them here?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"They aren't coming. We'll have Ye Dafu and the others take the stage for now."

The Demon Child, demon-subduing golden hoop in hand, was rushing toward Ye Dafu and his group of golden cultivators. A group of fierce cultivators radiating malice followed behind him.

"Die!" they roared.

Ye Dafu and the others 'blanched' as they turned to run, but they were unable to outrun the Demon Child. They were quickly subject to a beating, one that sent clouds of dust rising into the air.

"No, no more! It hurts!"

"Spare me! Ouch!"

"I want to go home! Stop beating me!"

Ye Dafu and his crew began to howl and whine piteously, while the Demon Child watched on in excitement. He began to cackle. "Ha! Serves you right for being Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates. I'm going to beat all of you to the point where your own mothers won't recognize you, haha!"

The Demon Child and his gang continued to beat up Ye Dafu and his crew. Meanwhile, Ao Canghai's cultivators glanced at each other in consternation. What was going on? Ye Dafu was already getting beaten up! Were they supposed to jump in, too?

Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Zhang Lingjun frowned. "As you predicted, the Demon Child ended up securing a nomination as a substitute Martial Aspect. He's even gathered up a group of people to beat up Ye Dafu and the others..."

Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak, Black Dog suddenly appeared by their side.

He grimaced in sympathy. "Please spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao. I came to provide an explanation. The Demon Child threw a horrible tantrum that whole day, making a fuss even after we wrote to the Southern Aspect about what had happened. The Southern Aspect had no choice but to have me write him a nomination."

"Southern Aspect Yang intends for the Demon Child to take revenge on me, and even my subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"No, Martial Aspect. We investigated the situation and found that someone was deliberately trying to incite the Demon Child to cause trouble for you. I suspect Ao Canghai or his confidantes. I've explained the situation carefully to the Demon Child, and he was infuriated when he realized what was going on. He's participating in this selection only in an attempt to find the mastermind and take his revenge."

"Hm?"

"Please relax, Martial Aspect Xiao. The Demon Child's still a child, and I expect he's still mad at you for beating him up. He promised me that he would only take revenge on Ao Canghai's subordinates, not yours. He's just having a tantrum at the moment," Black Dog said apologetically.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "You claim that Ao Canghai was responsible. Is this what the Southern Aspect deduced?"

"No, Martial Aspect. The Southern Aspect is still in the Southern Sea and doesn't have time to figure out what's going on. This investigation was carried out by me and several Southern Martial Aspects," Black Dog replied.

"Oh? Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Please allow me to apologize about your subordinates again."

"It doesn't matter. As long as the Demon Child doesn't kill them, they can chalk their beating up to a difference in skill. I won't blame you. I'm sure you have your own affairs to handle."

"Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" Black Dog bowed again.

He was still feeling guilty as he left, but while passing by the golden cultivators watching from the outside, he heard a few strange remarks.

"Ah, I'm envious! Getting beaten up by the Demon Child must feel particularly comfortable."

"I'd like to be pounded with that golden hoop, too..."

"Me too! Why isn't it my turn?"

"Hear, hear!"

The golden cultivators on the outside of the barrier were whispering to themselves.

Black Dog paused, blinking. He frowned. Was he hearing things? Surely that couldn't be...