Wayfarer

Chapter 709: The Twelve Golden Cultivators Unmasked

The eighteen regiments of Shenfeng fought so fiercely that they had finished taking down the six neighboring empires' Immortal cities within a week. After that, they then gathered at the empires' capitals.

This astounding feat left all the spectating cultivators and external forces astonished. The war had only been going on for two months! Just how strong was Shenfeng's army?

Of course, this was partly thanks to the involvement of the various Immortal sects.

Shenfeng's rapid rise and imminent ascension caused all the cultivators serving as officials within Shenfeng to reach out to their own Immortal sects and holy lands in order to garner more support and make them aware of this incredible opportunity. The Immortal sects, by and large, chose to join Shenfeng even before the upcoming imperial examination so as to accumulate merit more quickly. As a result, Shenfeng's regiments grew stronger and more numerous in an instant.

Plenty of strong cultivators had gathered by Shenfeng's capital, one and all intent on joining its regiments to participate in the war. However, by then, the process had become more complicated. At the very least, they would need their identities and backgrounds verified lest any spies be admitted into Shenfeng's regiments. Not only that, prospective applicants needed guarantors who were already in Shenfeng. Some sect masters who had arrived in the last few days found that they were no longer granted an audience with the Divine Emperor herself, but only with her subordinate officials.

"Senior Brother, I told you to hurry up, didn't I? You insisted on waiting. We've missed out on an incredible opportunity!"

The other cultivator frowned. "I didn't expect that Shenfeng would deploy its troops so quickly. Didn't they say that the imperial examination was scheduled for a month later? It's only been two weeks!"

"You took too long! I heard that, until recently, Immortal sect masters inclined to join Shenfeng were greeted by the Divine Emperor herself. All their disciples have accumulated a wealth of merit during the war, and in a relatively safe environment, too! By now, Shenfeng doesn't need us any longer. We'll barely have any opportunity to fight!"

"In that case, should we leave?"

"We can't! It's clear that Shenfeng is making preparations to advance into a divine empire. We'll still have opportunities to gain merit. If we leave now, other Immortal sects will take our place!"

"Shall we wait, then?"

"We don't have any other choice. Just one wrong move—that's all it takes. I just hope we're not too late yet."

Cultivators were sighing all across Shenfeng's capital as they regretted not joining Shenfeng more quickly. Shenfeng's reputation had soared over the past two months.

Within the palatial valley, while the Divine Emperor was still in secluded cultivation as she analyzed the black coffin and its contents, the shadow cursed effigies reported to Xiao Nanfeng instead.

"The interior of the black coffin in the Southeastern Aquatic Palace is a hidden realm, you say?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Black fog fills the hidden realm, and cursed effigies of some sort populate it. It's particularly dangerous, and those who enter may easily perish. The majority of those daring to brave the depths of the black coffin have avatars. They claim that there are countless treasures within, even Boundless Immortal ones."

"Oh?"

"A popular rumor states that these coffins can be used to exchange for any treasure in the world at thrice its usual value. Over the course of millennia, they must have accumulated incredible treasure. For some reason, the black coffin seems to be able to preserve them immaculately. The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue and Yuan Wudi entered the coffin not too long ago. Yuan Wudi rose to the ranks of a Boundless Immortal as a result, and the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue might have obtained some priceless treasure within as well."

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"And these rumors are spreading far and wide?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. We've witnessed a considerable number of cultivators enter from the south and the east, with countless Immortals among them. Southern Aspect Yang Chuan headed in himself as well."

"A Boundless Immortal entered? More and more will show up, then," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, frowning.

"The news is spreading faster and faster. Should we prepare to enter as well, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Nanfeng considered the option. "No. Just keep watch."

"Understood!" replied the shadow cursed effigy, if rather unwillingly.

"The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue and Yuan Wudi are both Boundless Immortals. If the treasures within the black coffin were so easy to retrieve, why wouldn't they bring more out with them? It's clear that there's considerable danger in doing so. What's more, we don't even know what sort of cursed effigies lie within. There's no need to take unnecessary risks. We should focus on overwhelming the six neighboring empires at the moment."

"Understood!" the shadow replied.

After the shadow retreated, Xiao Nanfeng frowned as he thought to himself. Just what could the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue be planning by luring cultivators all over the world into the black coffin?

Outside a certain empire's capital, three regiments of Shenfeng's army had gathered: Ye Dafu, Xia Hong, and a True Immortal from some Immortal sect.

They were discussing how to siege the empire's capital within a large tent.

Of course, the cultivators couldn't help but eye the masked Ye Dafu, who was the only Golden Immortal among them.

"His Majesty has commanded us to conquer this capital within three days," Ye Dafu said.

"The defensive formations around this city have been activated in their entirety," Xia Hong replied, frowning. "It won't be easy to conquer it."

"Perhaps not to you, but it shouldn't be too hard for us Golden Immortals. I'll attack with one of my brothers-in-arms. With two Golden Immortals taking the lead, we should have the formation down in no time. The problem will be dealing with the emperor within."

"He's a Golden Immortal and will likely be particularly dangerous for us to face. We'll have to trouble you two Golden Immortals," Xia Hong replied.

"Very well. As for the rest of the capital's defenders, I'll have to leave that to you."

"Understood!" the other two commanders replied.

"Let's set off, then!"

Ye Dafu and a golden cultivator charged toward the capital.

The two Golden Immortals struck simultaneously, causing the barrier to shake violently.

"Continue!" Ye Dafu shouted.

"Got it!" the other golden cultivator replied.

The two golden cultivators launched a flurry of intense attacks as they continued to batter down the capital's defenses.

Meanwhile, those cultivators within the capital were running around madly.

Because Shenfeng's army had been rapidly taking down the six empires' Immortal cities, the empires were losing land, cultivators, fortune, and imperial might.

The emperor was standing within his palace and eyeing the sky with despair. His face was wretched. Two months ago, we emperors were thinking about how to take down the Divine Emperor and make her a concubine. How could the situation have deteriorated so badly since?"

"Your Majesty, I've sent assassins at the Divine Emperor, but none of them have made it back. Shenfeng's assassins are far superior to ours," a black-robed cultivator beside him sighed.

"The Divine Emperor really has been hiding her reserves, it seems. Is Hongyue content to watch us all fall?" the emperor gritted.

"The Immortal Emperor of Hongyue is busy with that business involving the black coffin. As you surmised, Your Majesty, he's likely pursuing some grand plan and has no time for our war."

The emperor shook his head in defeat. "We underestimated Shenfeng."

"Your Majesty, I am in possession of a secret technique that can stimulate my body and allow me to reach the realm of a Golden Immortal for a short period of time. Shall I—"

The emperor shook his head. "It'll cost you your life."

"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make, Your Majesty."

The emperor glanced at the barrier around his empire's capital, which was slowly starting to shatter. In the end, he nodded. "Very well. If you do perish, I shall take care of your family."

"Understood!"

The emperor raised his head to the heavens. "My citizens, hear me! Our empire, our land, our families—the time has come for our final stand. I seek your help in quelling the wretched invaders that seek to take down this empire. Raise your right hand and lend me your strength!"

The sea of fortune overhead boomed, transmitting the emperor's voice to all his citizens.

The citizens raised their heads in silence. The six empires that Shenfeng was attacking were well known for extorting the common people, and there was no love lost between them and their monarch. They had heard about the shocking policies that Shenfeng had implemented in the Immortal cities it had conquered. What empire's policies would favor them to such an extreme?

They who had suffered under the reign of the current emperor made no move to lend him their power.

The large and influential clans of the capital had long since arranged for some of their cultivators to defect to Shenfeng. They had no loyalty to the current emperor and would side with whoever ended up the victor. They didn't intend on helping out the emperor—in fact, they were afraid that Shenfeng would deal with them if they did so. They kept a tight rein on their strength and chose not to lend any to the emperor.

Of course, a rare few cultivators did respond to the emperor's summons, but far fewer than was necessary.

Fortune and limited donations of strength were infused into the emperor's body, causing it to exude a golden sheen. Embarrassingly enough, it only managed to advance him into a late-stage Golden Immortal.

Beside him, the black-robed official downed a pill.

His aura evolved into that of an early-stage Golden Immortal.

With a huge crash, the defensive formation around the capital was shattered.

"Die!" Ye Dafu and his fellow golden cultivator shot straight toward the palace.

"Die!" The emperor and black-robed official soared into the sky.

The four cultivators faced off against each other, unleashing a tempest of wind and flame all around them.

Meanwhile, Xia Hong and three of Shenfeng's regiments shouted, "Attack the city!"

"Die!"

Shenfeng's troops rushed into the city, which had been plunged into chaos as a number of clans who had chosen to side with Shenfeng attacked their erstwhile allies.

"Everyone, put on your red headband and attack our enemies with me!" a clan head roared.

A large number of cultivators had suddenly defected from the capital's garrison and were now attacking their own, taking Shenfeng's troops by surprise.

"Whoever's wearing a red headband is with us!" Xia Hong instructed. "Don't attack them!"

"Understood!" the three regiments chorused.

The entire capital transformed into a huge battlefield.

High in the air, the emperor's empowered strength allowed him to send Ye Dafu flying. Ye Dafu's golden mask cracked, revealing his identity.

"Aren't you Martial Aspect Ye from the Imperial Court? Why are you helping Shenfeng?!" the emperor exclaimed.

Countless cultivators saw the unmasked Ye Dafu for themselves. Those who didn't recognize him didn't care; those that did were shocked.

"Ye Dafu? Wasn't he a True Immortal? When did he become a Golden Immortal?" a Yuqing disciple cried out.

Xia Lan's eyes widened. "I was wondering where the generals Second Brother borrowed from Xiao Nanfeng were—they're here! Could the twelve Golden Immortals of Shenfeng all be Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates? How could that be?!"