Wayfarer

Chapter 708: Seven-Day Command

A certain Immortal sect's disciples had all gathered in one hall.

"Sect Master, we can't delay matters any further. The Shenfeng Empire is on the rise. With twelve Golden Immortals leading the way, Shenfeng's growth will be unparalleled. If we don't commit to the cause now, we won't stand to benefit from joining Shenfeng at all!"

"Right, Sect Master! The Shenfeng Empire already possesses the reserves of strength appropriate for a divine empire. Shouldn't we take advantage of the opportunity to join Shenfeng before it advances? Sect Master, if we miss this opportunity, it won't come again!"

A group of disciples were trying to persuade their sect master to endorse their cause.

The sect master frowned. "It's hardly that easy to advance an empire into a divine empire. Do you think the other divine empires would simply watch on as another rival rises up around them? What's more, Shenfeng is close in proximity to Hongyue. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue would never allow an enemy so close by."

The hall fell silent.

Just then, a disciple asked, "Sect Master, how do you know the Divine Emperor isn't a Boundless Immortal?"

"What?" Everyone turned toward the disciple who had spoken.

"None of us have ever seen her fight. What if she's a Boundless Immortal? What's more, Shenfeng reached this level of strength in just two years. Can you imagine what it'll be like in another two years? Who's to say that it won't become a divine empire? If all empires have to worry about being suppressed by other divine empires, then surely none would ever advance," the disciple said.

Everyone considered this argument. One disciple was in immediate agreement. "That's right. Shenfeng has advanced so much in just two years. What if it has hidden reserves of strength we don't know anything about?"

"Sect Master, no matter what, we'll be betting on one empire or another. If not Shenfeng, who would we support?"

The cultivators in the hall fell silent. They seemed to have come to a consensus.

Just then, a disciple rushed into the hall. "Sect Master, a Shenfeng official is requesting an audience! He's outside the sect right now."

"Oh? Send him in quickly," the sect master replied.

The Shenfeng official made her way into the hall and bowed. "I hail from Shenfeng and greet everyone in the capacity of a ceremonial official."

"Is something the matter, Envoy?" the sect master asked.

"On Her Majesty's orders, we have been tasked with heading to Immortal sects far and wide to invite cultivators to Shenfeng's upcoming imperial examination in a month. The best administrative officials and martial generals all over the world shall be invited to join Shenfeng and advance our illustrious empire."

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"An imperial examination for cultivators all over the world? Isn't Shenfeng in the midst of a full-scale war?" the sect master exclaimed.

"The six empires are expected to fall within the month, and Shenfeng is already making preparations for the upcoming imperial examination. Her Majesty seeks talent irrespective of status or background. All who join Shenfeng will have an opportunity to showcase their skill. She particularly values those from large-scale Immortal sects like this one. I have been tasked with conveying a personal invitation." The official handed over an ornate scroll.

The sect master was taken aback. From the official's attitude, it was clear that Shenfeng treated its victory over the six neighboring empires as a predestined affair. It was already making plans for what would come next.

But why was it only recruiting cultivators after a month? By then, all six neighboring empires would have fallen. Just what was it planning next?

Suddenly, a thought flashed across everyone's minds. Could Shenfeng be about to start another war as it made preparations to advance into a divine empire? Everyone gasped.

"Will the imperial examination only start in a month? Is Shenfeng amenable to accepting cultivators before that?" the sect master asked.

"Of course. Shenfeng is under rapid development and urgently needs manpower. Any who are interested in operating under Shenfeng's aegis are welcome to apply at any time. However, the Shenfeng Empire only has two years' worth of history, and its reputation has yet to spread far and wide. We worry that we won't be taken seriously by the various Immortal sects, and have decided to schedule the imperial examination after our upcoming victory over the six empires so that external forces can get a sense of our worth." The official smiled.

"The Divine Emperor truly is thoughtful. We receive this invitation with gratitude," the sect master replied.

The official bowed. "I apologize for being brusque, but there are more Immortal sects on my agenda. Thank you for your time."

"Allow me to see you off." The sect master personally led the envoy out.

Only when the envoy had left did the cultivators begin to voice their opinions once more.

"Sect Master, it's clear that Shenfeng values us enough to send an envoy to our sect. This is a huge advantage—we can't just waste it!"

"Shenfeng needs talented cultivators immediately. If we wait another month, after it takes over its six neighboring empires, it'll have a vast pool of talent to choose from. We have to join now!"

"Not only that, if we participate in the war now, we'll be able to earn merit for ourselves immediately!"

The sect master, elders, and core disciples continued their earnest discussion.

Finally, the sect master nodded. "Very well. Since we have near-unanimous support for Shenfeng, we need wait no longer. The Yuqing disciples have already taken the upper hand, and we can't allow ourselves to fall further behind."

The disciples cheered. "We'll head to Shenfeng immediately!"

There were plenty of other Immortal sects who had just received the final push they needed to join Shenfeng.

Days later, in a hall in the palatial valley in Shenfeng's capital, the Divine Emperor gave Xiao Nanfeng a glum look. "It's all thanks to you that I'm so busy! We've gotten such an influx of cultivators over the last few days because of these envoys."

"You should hardly have to greet them yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said, embracing the Divine Emperor. "You're a Boundless Immortal! Just send some of your subordinates over."

"But there are sect masters of Immortal sects among them! Don't I have to show them proper courtesy? Shenfeng belongs both to me and to you, after all..."

"I know you want to recruit more people and leave them with the best impression of us, but you should know that our situations have been reversed. In the past, we hoped to invite the various Immortal sects to join Shenfeng. Now, however, the Immortal sects are hoping to join us. We're giving them the opportunity to do so, not vice versa. Ordinary officials are sufficient reception for them. If any sect masters leave because they feel slighted, it's a loss for them, not for us."

The Divine Emperor frowned, but ultimately nodded. "Very well. I won't greet them myself, then."

"Right you are, my wife," Xiao Nanfeng said, kissing her on the mouth.

"What're you doing? We're out in public!" The Divine Emperor pushed Xiao Nanfeng aside in embarrassment.

Xiao Nanfeng was about to respond when a voice exclaimed from outside the hall, "Your Majesty!"

The two cultivators belatedly stopped their tomfoolery. The Divine Emperor cleared her throat. "Enter!"

A shadow stepped into the hall and bowed. "Your Majesty, we have news from the Southeastern Aquatic Palace."

"Oh?"

"The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue has emerged from the black coffin along with one of his subordinates, Yuan Wudi. Yuan Wudi was originally a Golden Immortal white ape spirit, but he emerged as a Boundless Immortal."

"A Boundless Immortal!" the two cultivators exclaimed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Everyone was already interested in the black coffin upon seeing that iit was able to repair Li Qianjun's Taiqing burial pagoda. When the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue emerged, he left with Li Qianjun, leaving Yuan Wudi to guard the coffin. A Golden Immortal taunted him, only to be sent flying. He definitely had a Boundless Immortal's aura."

"The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, the empress, Tu Jiuniang, and this Yuan Wudi—Hongyue has three Boundless Immortals to its name, and a Boundless Immortal relic in the form of Li Qianjun's pagoda!" the Divine Emperor exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng held the Divine Emperor's hands tightly. "Don't worry."

The Divine Emperor nodded.

"What's the situation like in the Southeastern Aquatic Palace at the moment?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Yuan Wudi waited for some time while Hongyue's officials emerged. Then, he left alongside all those officials."

"Oh?"

"After that, cultivators from various forces who had been on guard around the coffin stepped inside together."

"Was the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue's goal to lure more people into the black coffin? It looks like there must be a secret hidden within," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"I'll need to speed up my research," the Divine Emperor said via mental transmission.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Very well. I'll oversee the war against the six empires. Nothing will go wrong."

The Divine Emperor nodded, then turned to the shadow. "From now on, I'll be in secluded cultivation. Listen to Nanfeng in regards to everything concerning Shenfeng, and pass him my imperial seal and edicts. He's my husband and emperor of Shenfeng."

"Understood!" the shadow cursed effigy replied.

Xiao Nanfeng commanded, "Send word to the commanders of the various regiments. Within seven days, I want all the regiments to have advanced to the capital of their respective empires. Within ten days, I want all the empires defeated."

"Understood!" the shadow replied, bowing.

On the frontlines, Ye Dafu and his army had just taken down another Immortal city and were resting when an official reported, "Commander, on His Majesty's orders, you're to advance to the capital within seven days and take down the empire within ten."

Ye Dafu was just about to nod when a few generals beside him began to complain.

"Is it that urgent? Don't we even have any time to rest?"

"Let us take a breather, won't you? We just took down this Immortal city!"

"Right, give us a chance to recuperate first!"

The official who had just reported to Ye Dafu turned to the gathered generals and soldiers. "Everyone, if you're tired or injured, His Majesty permits you to stay behind and rest. You will still receive merit for all the battles you've participated in to date. Shenfeng now has plenty of reinforcements who can take over in your stead, but the seven-day limit is non-negotiable."

The generals and soldiers' eyes widened in shock. One of them immediately shook his head. "No, don't! We aren't tired anymore. We don't need any replacements!"

"Right, with Commander Ye in the vanguard, it isn't tiring at all."

"When are we next going to get an opportunity to earn merit for ourselves? No, we have to keep going!"

"Even if I'm injured, I'll find my own replacements! My sect's chosen to join Shenfeng as well. We don't need any outsiders. A week is plenty of time!"

The cultivators' fighting spirit rose the moment they realized they could be replaced.

Ye Dafu, naturally, had no objections. He stood up. "If you're wounded, stay behind. Everyone else, summon your fellow disciples. We'll set off immediately so the other regiments can't steal our merit from us!"

"Understood!" the generals and soldiers chorused.