Wayfarer

Chapter 701: Informing Yang Chuan

The Yuqing hierarch officially made the Demon Child the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak.

Xiao Nanfeng immediately sent the Demon Child a mental transmission, urging him to respond. The Demon Child exclaimed, "I thank the hierarch and the gathered Mountain Lords for approving my nomination. I'll develop Taiyi Peak to the best of my abilities."

Shi Tianbei glanced at the Demon Child. The annoyance in his eyes flashed and faded away in an instant. "Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak, we'll follow customary routine and announce your promotion to the Yuqing holy land at large."

"Understood!" The Demon Child nodded.

Shi Tianbei then turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Xiao Nanfeng, I heard you stole the seventh-grade lotus of the Yuqing holy land."

Everyone turned toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"I'm glad I can clear up this misunderstanding now, Yuqing Hierarch. As you know, I was forced to oppose Sage Green Lotus in order to protect the Demon Child. The seventh-grade lotus was too powerful for me to defend against, so I temporarily seized it. I'm aware that the seventh-grade lotus is one of the representative treasures of the Yuqing holy land, and claiming it for myself would be utmost discourtesy. Considering my relation with the Yuqing holy land, I would never do so. I've already returned it to a Mountain Lord of Yuqing," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Countless Yuqing disciples sighed in relief. Many seemed embarrassed. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had won the seventh-grade lotus fairly by right of combat. Forcing him to return it just because he had a close relationship with the Yuqing holy land hardly seemed fair.

"Oh? Have you?" Shi Tianbei looked toward Yang Chuan.

This had to be why Yang Chuan had helped the Demon Child out to this extent.

The Demon Child shook his head. "The seventh-grade lotus is with me. Xiao Nanfeng used it to help me reforge my physical body. It was a treasure of Taiyi Peak to begin with, and it'll remain that way."

"What?" Everyone turned to the Demon Child in astonishment.

Then, they sighed. They wouldn't have a chance to claim the seventh-grade lotus for themselves, after all.

Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes as he guessed what had happened. "How adroitly you play politics, Xiao Nanfeng."

"Thank you for the praise, Hierarch Shi. I am but a guest of the Yuqing holy land." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Shi Tianbei eyed Xiao Nanfeng coldly. What was done was done, and there was no point wasting more time talking about it further. He turned toward Xia Xingchen. "Mountain Lord Xia, shall we speak elsewhere?"

"Very well." Xia Xingchen nodded.

Shi Tianbei and the Mountain Lords followed Xia Xingchen away. Only Yang Chuan remained behind.

Yang Chuan continued fanning himself as he walked up to the Demon Child. "Demon Child, though you might now be the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak in name, there's plenty you'll still have to handle in terms of administration and paperwork. Don't get careless just yet."

"Thank you, Senior Brother," the Demon Child replied gratefully.

"Thank you, Southern Aspect Yang." Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow as well.

"No need for thanks. We made a deal, after all," Yang Chuan said.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You must have spent quite a few favors to arrange all of this. The Demon Child and I will owe you a favor each."

"Haha, very well! Remember to pay me back, then, Martial Aspect Xiao." Yang Chuan laughed out loud.

He had called in quite a few favors and even gone against the Yuqing hierarch. Even so, he didn't mind.

"That said, I don't like owing too much in terms of favors. How about this? I have a piece of information I was going to report to the Heavenly Emperor, but I'll use it to repay you instead." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Oh?"

Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, erecting a barrier to isolate all sound. "I heard that you were investigating the Southern Sea Draconic Palace, Southern Aspect Yang."

"You're aware?" Yang Chuan snapped his fan shut.

The Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli, had asked him to investigate the situation. No one else was supposed to know about it.

"I was present when the Heavenly Emperor had you investigate the saint," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

Yang Chuan nodded in understanding. "I forgot that you were familiar with Princess Lingjun, Martial Aspect Xiao. The Heavenly Emperor must think highly of you."

"Southern Aspect Yang, might I ask about the status of the investigation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Yang Chuan's brows furrowed slightly before he sighed. "I haven't been very successful. The entire Southern Sea Draconic Palace seems to have vanished in an instant. I searched for a long time, but found no trace that it was ever present."

"Saints really do have incredible abilities," Xiao Nanfeng sighed.

"Have you found a clue?" Yang Chuan asked.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Are you aware of the black coffin at the Southeastern Aquatic Palace?"

Yang Chuan nodded. "I heard that Ao Canghai and Li Qianjun had a big fight in the vicinity, and some Mountain Lords of Yuqing were involved as well. No one was able to move the black coffin, which I expect is a cursed effigy. It allows you to exchange for any desired item with thrice that item's value, which isn't a particularly worthwhile trade," YAng Chuan said.

"I've seen that coffin before. Black hands emanated from it, reminding me of the black hands that a saint's avatar manifested in the Imperial Court. Furthermore, the immobility of the black coffin is a result of heavenly law, which only saints can manipulate."

"Heavenly law? Are you certain?" Yang Chuan exclaimed.

"I am highly confident. You may be interested in checking on it yourself, Southern Aspect Yang." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"I will. Do you expect that the saint I'm looking for left that black coffin there?"

"I think that's highly likely," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Yang Chuan nodded. "Thank you for the information. I'll be able to report back to the Heavenly Emperor with this. I accept this favor with gratitude."

"Furthermore, I suspect the original inhabitants of the Southeastern Aquatic Palace were working with the divine empire of Hongyue. If the black coffin is related to a saint, Hongyue might be as well."

Yang Chuan frowned upon hearing this information. "Allow me to confirm your findings, Martial Aspect Xiao. I'll discuss any follow-ups that arise with you."

"My pleasure to be of service."

He didn't mind Yang Chuan's reticence. After all, it was no secret that he was enemies with the divine empire of Hongyue, and Yang Chuan was wary of being manipulated by Xiao Nanfeng.

"I'll be heading out, then. I've left a few subordinates behind to help the Demon Child with the process of being instated as a Mountain Lord and his subsequent administrative duties."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Yang Chuan motioned for his subordinates to assist the Demon Child as he flew off.

Xiao Nanfeng had a short discussion with the Demon Child before leaving Taiyi Peak and heading to Chiyang Peak.

Xia Hong found him along the way.

"Nanfeng, to think you were able to make the Demon Child into the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak!" Xia Hong exclaimed in disbelief.

"When did you get here, Senior Brother?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"I saw the whole thing. Since you were helping out the Demon Child, I didn't want to interrupt."

"Let's talk back at Chiyang Peak," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.

"Very well!" Xia Hong nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng followed Xia Hong back to Chiyang Peak, whereupon the three women ventured out to meet them.

Xia Lan frowned. He had followed Xia Hong to Taiyi Peak too, but he had returned in advance to explain what had happened to the three women.

"Nanfeng, why did you end up giving the seventh-grade lotus to the Demon Child?" One of the women frowned.

"He's a pitiful child, after all. He..." Xiao Nanfeng recounted what had happened in Taixu, though he didn't bring up the Divine Emperor's involvement.

The three women sniffed upon hearing of the Demon Child's plight.

Xia Hong asked immediately, "Doesn't that mean that the Demon Child will assist you whenever you need?"

"More or less. The Demon Child might still be young, but he knows how to repay kindness in kind. Senior Brother, if you intend to wage war against Hongyue and need any assistance, please let me know. I expect I should be able to get the Demon Child to help you out."

"Haha, good!" Xia Hong was naturally elated.

"Have you managed to recruit many disciples to your cause?"

"Thanks to your help, there were far more disciples than I had anticipated. I was preparing to return to the divine empire of Shenfeng, but I delayed several days after hearing of what happened to you. Since you're alright, there's no need for me to worry. When Father gets back, I'll speak with him a little and ask about Yu'er. I plan to leave thereafter."

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I wish you all the best, Senior Brother."

"And you as well," Xia Hong replied.

The cultivators chatted for a little longer before a beam of golden light flashed by. Xia Xingchen had returned to Chiyang Peak.

Everyone swarmed him. Xia Lan asked anxiously, "Father, where's Yu'er?"

"Right, is Yu'er alright? Is she in danger?" the others added.

"Don't worry. She's doing very well," Xia Xingchen replied.

"Oh?"

"Yu'er and I both entered the purple moon illusory realm, where we found a specter of the Yuqing Grandmaster. He accepted Yu'er as his official apprentice and is teaching her the secret techniques of Yuqing."

"The Yuqing Grandmaster!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed. "Has he been revived as well?"

"The Yuqing Grandmaster?" Everyone was taken aback.

The Mountain Lords and even the Yuqing hierarch himself were stunned by this revelation. Their nascent plans to force him to guide them into the purple moon illusory realm were foiled.

After all, if the Yuqing Grandmaster were still alive, how could they dare to barge into the realm?

"The grandmaster permitted me to enter the purple moon illusory realm at will. Yang Chuan summoned me back with a secret technique. I'll be in secluded cultivation at Chiyang Peak for some time as I return to the purple moon illusory realm to guard Yu'er and accept the Yuqing Grandmaster's teachings myself," Xia Xingchen said.

"Wonderful!" Xia Lan exclaimed.

Xia Hong and the gathered women were relieved and happy as well.

"Congratulations, Mountain Lord Xia." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Xia Xingchen gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look. Then, ultimately, he sighed and shook his head. "You really do know how to cause trouble, don't you?"

"Thank you for the praise, Mountain Lord Xia."

"The hierarch and a few of the Mountain Lords are now strongly opposed to you after your machinations to make the Demon Child the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak. You better not remain in the Yuqing holy land for the time being. Leave quickly," Xia Xingchen urged.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.