Wayfarer

One day later, in the Immortal city of Fengdu, the eight commanders gathered in a hall.

"The ninth commander, Xiao Nanfeng... Do any of you know about him?" one of the commanders asked.

"I'm not sure. I only learned that he was a division leader of the sect to which Lan Jiguang belongs, but have little understanding of his strength. Lan Jiguang did have a commander slot to assign, so I suppose it doesn't affect us unduly," another commander said.

"Doesn't affect us unduly? Another commander means another person fighting for resources with us. That commander slot was meant for Lan Jiguang's wife. After she was dragged into the abyss, he repeatedly claimed that that slot would belong only to her—but now he's using it for a favor!" the first commander replied.

"I don't think it's that simple."

"Oh?"

"Have a look. This is a bounty that Xiao Nanfeng has just established."

The commanders immediately looked at the bounty. It showed a portrait of a person.

"Oh? Whoever has seen the man in the bounty and provides clues as to his whereabouts can, if confirmed, obtain an Immortal relic? How rich he is. There must be something extraordinary about that man. Do any of you know anything about him?"

Everyone shook their heads, except for one commander among them.

The eight commanders were well acquainted. Despite their superficial camaraderie, they were all plotting against one another in private. The change in that one commander's expression instantly roused the others' attention.

"Commander Lie Yang, do you know the man in the bounty?"

Everyone looked toward Lie Yang, who lowered his head. He realized that he had unintentionally made his emotions clear. He shook his head immediately. "I don't know him."

The other commanders were doubtful, but didn't press him further.

After the eight commanders' meeting ended, Lie Yang rushed back to the military barracks under his control. The area was heavily guarded and fortified with formations. He headed straight into a domain thick with fog. Inside was a hall. He knelt down and waited respectfully by its door.

After some time, the door to the hall opened with a creak. Commander Lie YAng entered with the bounty.

Not long after, a deep voice commanded, "Secretly bring this Xiao Nanfeng over to me."

"Understood!" Commander Lie Yang said.

A day later, within the Immortal city of Fengdu, Xiao Nanfeng and Ye Dafu were walking along the streets and marveling at the riches they saw.

"Your Majesty, Fengdu really is prosperous, isn't it? This is a pretty far-flung part of a divine empire, but it's full of apothecaries and antiquarian shops. A few Immortal sects have even established themselves directly within the city! There are countless Ascension-realm cultivators and plenty of Spiritsong ones too. Even Wingform-realm cultivators are commonplace. It's incredible," Ye Dafu said.

"This is the difference between an empire and a divine empire. An ordinary empire might only be slightly wealthier than a single city in a divine empire. That said, Dazheng is steadily growing larger and more prosperous. Yongding will surely eclipse this city soon," Xiao Nanfeng said confidently.

"I think so too, Your Majesty." Ye Dafu nodded.

The two cultivators walked toward a public noticeboard erected in the city.

Countless people were gathered around it, pointing and muttering at a certain bounty in excitement and anticipation.

"Your Majesty, they're all looking at our bounty!" Ye Dafu's eyes brightened.

"An Immortal relic is a highly alluring reward, and I'm sure they'll do their best to scour the city for clues about that person." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Your Majesty, is that person important?" Ye Dafu asked curiously.

The person was, of course, none other than the fallen Martial Aspect. However, the matter was of such importance that the sect master and four division leaders had decided to keep everything private lest anything unexpected happen.

"He's very important. I'm here at Fengdu to search for his whereabouts.

"Oh?" Ye Dafu exclaimed.

"Aren't you supposed to be meeting Chang Bing for bouts? Why aren't you headed there?"

"My brothers told me that I already enjoyed myself too much last time, and that it's their turn this time. I was forced to stand guard out here," Ye Dafu replied wryly.

Xiao Nanfeng laughed. "You should join them."

"I can't! Before I came, Third Uncle instructed me to ensure that you were always guarded. I had better follow you around. I'll go the next time I'm off-duty," Ye Dafu replied seriously.

"Don't worry. This is the Immortal city of Fengdu. No one can hurt me here. Go!"

"But—" Ye Dafu seemed uneasy.

"This is an order."

"Understood! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

A direct order from the emperor could hardly be ignored. He soared into the air, happy to get a chance at another massage.

Xiao Nanfeng continued strolling down the street, thinking to himself, "According to the information Zhang Feifan gave me, a Martial Aspect's life is connected to the Imperial Court's sea of fortune. More than half a year ago, this Martial Aspect suddenly left a letter behind stating that he had to head to Fengdu. Then, not too long thereafter, the sea of fortune revealed that he had perished. He must have left some trace of his whereabouts behind..."

Just then, a red-robed man walked up to Xiao Nanfeng and bowed. "I greet the Ninth Commander. I have information pertaining to the bounty. Would you be willing to follow me?"

"Who are you?" Xiao Nanfeng stared at the man before him.

The fact that he was able to recognize his identity at a glance meant that he had come prepared.

"It doesn't matter who I am. I'm telling the truth. The man in the bounty is missing a black mole on his forehead, isn't he?" The red-robed man smiled.

Xiao Nanfeng instantly deduced that the red-robed man really did know something about the man in the bounty.

"Who sent you? Where are you bringing me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"I'm only a messenger, Commander. I don't know the specifics of the information, but my lord wishes for you to join him for a banquet. If you're unwilling to do so, Commander, I shall take my leave."

Xiao Nanfeng contemplated the situation for a moment. The appearance of the man was suspicious. In Dazheng, he naturally wouldn't leave with someone of unknown identity, but this was Fengdu. It was unlikely that people would know of him, and he did desperately need information about the Martial Aspect's demise. This hint might be an important lead that he didn't want to miss.

"Lead the way!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

"Please follow me." The red-robed man guided the way from the front.

The red-robed man brought Xiao Nanfeng to a small cottage, where a carriage had been prepared for him.

"Using a carriage to obscure my whereabouts? There's no need for such trouble. I'll simply cover myself with fog. Lead the way."

He shrouded himself with fog. It was clear that the red-robed man had been following him for some time and had only shown himself once Ye Dafu left. This made Xiao Nanfeng even more curious and wary.

The two cultivators rushed quickly through the city until they arrived at a barracks. As the red-robed man showed himself, the guards bowed and allowed them entry deep within.

In a valley shrouded with fog, there seemed to be a formation isolating what lay within to what lay without.

By the time Xiao Nanfeng arrived, someone had been waiting for quite some time.

"Ah, if it isn't Commander Xiao. Greetings. I've been waiting for some time." The cultivator in the lead smiled.

"Commander Lie Yang?" Xiao Nanfeng dispelled the fog around him. He was surprised.

Over the last two days, he had naturally seen portraits of the eight commanders. He recognized Lie Yang immediately.

"I've prepared a banquet for us. Commander Xiao, please enter." Commander Lie Yang smiled and motioned at the banquet hall.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at the fog all around them and said, "An impressive formation indeed. My spiritual power doesn't seem to be able to penetrate it. Commander Lie Yang, you aren't luring me here in an attempt to ambush and kill me, are you?"

"Commander Xiao, let's talk more when we're inside,"Commander Lie Yang replied.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled and probed, "Commander Lie Yang, we don't have to beat around the bush. If you've seen the man in the bounty, the man's death must have been related to you. Were you the culprit? Are you trying to kill me, now?"

Commander Lie Yang frowned. "Commander Xiao, you're far too wary.

"No, I think not. Rather, your actions are too easy to misunderstand. You wanted me to come here alone without anyone realizing where I was going. You must have some sort of plan. I don't want to waste time talking with you. Did the man in the bounty die at your hands?"

He was surprised, too. Had he already found the Martial Aspect's killer so quickly?

Commander Lie Yang's face turned cold. "Take him down!"

"Understood!" everyone chorused.

The red-robed man by his side slashed at Xiao Nanfeng.

"A Human Immortal? Die!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed, drawing his divine undying blade.

The two cultivators clashed as green light emanated from the point of impact. The red-robed man's Immortal sword broke in half.

"Be careful!" commander Lie Yang cried out.

The divine undying blade's momentum continued and cut the red-robed man down in a shower of blood.

The other cultivators who had been rushing forward stopped short.

"Killing an Immortal in an instant? How could this be?!" the cultivators cried out.

Commander Lie Yang blanched, realizing that he had miscalculated. He instantly closed in on Xiao Nanfeng and punched at him.

Vexed, Xiao Nanfeng slashed at him with his blade.

His blade met a fist in a whirlwind of energy, but the formation around them was strong enough to absorb it all. Neither cultivator gained the upper hand during the confrontation.

"As expected, you're an Earth Immortal," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"And you're only a Human Immortal. But how could you be this strong?" Commander Lie Yang exclaimed.

"Commander Lie Yang, where's the corpse of the person in the bounty? Why did you kill him?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"We can talk about it once I capture you," Commander Lie Yang replied, pouncing forward once again.

Xiao Nanfeng sheathed his blade and rushed forward. The two cultivators' fists met in a tempest that sent all the nearby cultivators flying.

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