Wayfarer

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.

Xiao Nanfeng eyed Huo Qing for some time before shaking his head. "These are exceptional times, and I can't be certain whether or not you're also possessed. I can't allow you in. Wait outside the city. I've already sent a messenger to the Immortal Emperor. Once reinforcements are sent to Fengdu, I'll deactivate the barrier."

"What? Who had you report to the Immortal Emperor? Won't it make me look utterly useless? Let me in now, or I'll punish you!" Huo Qing thundered.

Xiao Nanfeng's face turned cold. "Huo Qing, listen up. I'm serving as acting city lord of Fengdu in order to assist my senior uncle. I, Xiao Nanfeng, am no official of Dayin, and you have no right to command me."

"Since you're an outsider, you shouldn't interfere with Dayin's affairs. I have the edict of appointment, and I am the acting city lord of Fengdu. I have the right to handle the affairs of the city. Now, open up!"

"Huo Qing, I've said my piece. I can't be certain whether you're possessed, so even the edict isn't sufficient. I don't intend to deactivate this barrier. Wait patiently."

"Insolence!" Huo Qing roared.

"Ignore him. Wait for reinforcements from the Immortal emperor of Dayin." Xiao Nanfeng turned to leave.

"You bastards! If you dare ignore me, I'll deal with you once I take over the city!" Huo Qing roared again.

The guards glanced at each other and shut the gates without any hesitation.

The gates creaked shut, causing Huo Qing to gape. "Are they crazy? Xiao Nanfeng's only been responsible for Fengdu for half a month. How could the guards disobey direct orders from me, the new acting city lord, in favor of his?"

Within the city, Chang Bing frowned. "Xiao Nanfeng, do you really not intend to let him in?"

"Why should we? Even if he hasn't been possessed by a cursed effigy, we know what he's going to do once he enters the city: use its formations to take on the Goat Yanluo. But if that's the extent of his strength, do you think he'll be able to descend into the abyss to save your master? There are multiple Yanluo Lords down there, and he's still too weak. We'll wait until the Immortal Emperor sends more strong cultivators."

"Understood!" Chang Bing replied.

Just then, with a huge boom, the defensive formation began to rattle.

"City Lord, Huo Qing's attacking the defensive formation around the city!" a guard cried out.

"Hm?"

He strode toward the watchtower to see Huo Qing striking at the barrier with a longsword.

Each slash was like a tempest, causing the barrier to shake.

"A Heaven Immortal?" Chang Bing exclaimed.

"This Huo Qing's a Heaven Immortal?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned as well.

"Xiao Nanfeng, you're a brat who's not even a part of the divine empire of Dayin. How dare you attempt to seize control over Fengdu? Deactivate the formation now and I'll spare your life—or else!" Huo Qing thundered.

"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?

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