Wayfarer

Chapter 622: A Legendary Slaughter

In the city lord's manor in the Immortal city of Honghai, the entire city's officials were convened to greet the Dayin envoys that had just arrived.

Dayin's officials strode forward in an orderly procession. The lead official stopped before City Lord Mo and read off an edict. Monks stood guard on either side of the official, staring grimly at City Lord Mo, as if they would strike him down if he were to show any sign of resistance.

"City Lord Mo, the Immortal Emperor hereby appoints you a courtly official. Head to the capital immediately to receive your new assignment. Accept the edict!"

"I, Mo Feiyan, thank the Immortal Emperor for his grace." City Lord Mo bowed respectfully, then stepped forward to receive the edict.

The Dayin official was taken aback. This wasn't the way things were supposed to go! It was far more likely than not that Mo Feiyan had already rebelled, and Dayin had even impersonated an envoy of an external force to probe his motives. Only after Mo Feiyan responded that he had already been approached by another force did Dayin's procession head over, waiting for the slightest resistance to make an example out of him, a proclamation against the world.

And yet—Mo Feiyan had readily accepted the edict. What were they to do?

The officials considered the situation silently, then finally handed Mo Feiyan the edict.

Mo Feiyan claimed the edict, then handed a document over. "Since I am no longer the city lord of Honghai, I may not submit reports to His Majesty myself. I bid you report to His Majesty that there have been disturbances all throughout Honghai. Not only have the citizens been in rebellion, plenty of envoys from external forces have reached out seeking to subvert my loyalty to Dayin. In order to stabilize the situation, I used all manner of excuses to send them away. I recorded the actions of these envoys in detail in this document. Please hand it to His Majesty as quickly as possible, and warn the next city lord of Honghai about these attempts."

The official in charge: ...

Could he have been mistaken? Had Mo Feiyan been loyal to Dayin all along?

"Lord Mo, worry not. Your thoughts will be conveyed to His Majesty," the official said.

"In that case, please allow me a moment's reprieve to handle some matters at home. I shall accompany you to Dayin's capital to assume my new position thereafter," City Lord Mo replied.

"Very well," the official said, nodding.

Since Lord Mo was a loyal official who hadn't participated in the rebellion, there was no need to make an example of him.

Mo Feiyan headed toward the back of his manor to handle his personal affairs as he prepared for the sudden move.

Meanwhile, the procession of Dayin officials began to appoint the new city lord that would take over Honghai.

The newly appointed city lord did nothing in particular. He knew of the situation in Dayin, and was doing his best to pacify the officials of Honghai to ensure that they would continue to maintain the stable operation of the city.

The officials waited patiently for quite some time, satisfied with what the newly appointed city lord was doing. However, Mo Feiyan never returned.

"Where is Mo Feiyan? Go check on him!" an official finally stated.

A group of cultivators rushed toward the city lord's manor, only to find that there was no one remaining.

"He ran off? Chase after him!" the official in charge thundered in rage.

Just then, Mo Feiyan's voice could be heard all over Honghai. "Citizens of Honghai, hear me! I, Mo Feiyan, am being pursued by Yin Shenhua. On fear of death, I intend to flee to safer territory and seek aid. The new city lord is a loyal servant of Yin Shenhua, privy to his evil and malice, here to cheat and swindle you! Citizens of Honghai, I ask you to protect yourself well, to stay safe until I return with reinforcements."

Countless people gasped in alarm as Mo Feiyan's voice spread throughout the city.

"Catch him!" the official in charge hissed.

A number of cultivators flew toward the source of the voice, but by the time they arrived, Mo Feiyan was nowhere to be seen.

Chaos and commotion overwhelmed Honghai.

Back in Yongding, in the hall in which Ao Canghai was currently situated, Ao Canghai's subordinates stood milling around, a sea of foreign faces.

"Eastern Aspect, the Immortal Emperor of Dachi claims that he will send Golden Immortals in support of the plan to collectively split up Dayin, as long as you hold back Yin Shenhua as necessary."

"Eastern Aspect, the Immortal Emperor of Dazhen is likewise willing to ally with us and has agreed to your conditions."

These cultivators were reporting to Ao Canghai in real time about negotiations unfolding all over the world. It was clear that they all possessed avatars of their own, which were facilitating communication between Ao Canghai and the leaders of various forces.

"Very well. I thank all of you in advance for your cooperation. We shall divide up Dayin among ourselves. If any Golden Immortals from Dayin attack, I ask for your support so that we may weather this crisis together," Ao Canghai replied.

His subordinates communicated his words to the foreign leaders and relayed their responses back. "Very well!"

Then, Ao Canghai dismissed his subordinates and sent for the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant.

"Eastern Aspect, were the negotiations successful?" one Martial Aspect asked expectantly.

"They were. With all these forces in cooperation, Yin Shenhua's done for. Head to the Immortal cities under your control and stand guard there. Kill any Dayin officials or delegations that arrive, and publicly announce that your Immortal cities are defecting from Dayin," ao Cnaghai said.

"Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.

"Eastern Aspect, what about you?" one Martial Aspect asked.

"I'll be keeping an eye on Yin Shenhua, of course. As long as I'm there, no one from Dayin will be able to make a move."

"If we all leave, what will happen to Yongding?" the Martial Aspect frowned.

"We've helped Xiao Nanfeng guard Yongding for long enough. If anything happens to Yongding while I'm gone, it'll be his responsibility. Now, let's go!" Ao Canghai commanded.

"Understood!" the Martial Aspects replied.

The cultivators shot out of Yongding and quickly vanished over the horizon.

Within Dayin's imperial study, Yin Shenhua scoffed as he received reports from all over Dayin. "These city lords are pretending to accept the edicts before stoking popular rebellions and vanishing? How childish."

"Father, this foreign alliance may be troublesome," Yin Mingwang remarked, frowning.

Yin Shenhua shook his head. "Ignore them. I have a method for dealing with them. All you need to do is keep an eye on these Martial Aspects. Xiao Nanfeng killed quite a few of our subordinates. It's time for some payback. Kill them all!"

"Understood!" everyone replied.

The Dayin cultivators rapidly scattered across their empire.

Meanwhile, announcements rang out all over the Immortal cities of Dayin.

"I, the city lord of the Immortal city of Zixia, hereby condemn Yin Shenhua's vile misdeeds in brutalizing his own citizens. Zixia now declares its independence from Dayin! For the safety of the people, Zixia has sought the support of the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and the Imperial Court at large, who shall protect its citizens from Yin Shenhua and his host of cursed effigies!"

"I, the city lord of the Immortal city of Yaori, hereby announce that Yaori shall join the divine empire of Dachi to prevent its citizens from being devoured by Yin Shenhua."

"I, the city lord of the Immortal city of Houtu, hereby announce that Houtu shall join the divine empire of Dazhen to prevent its citizens from being devoured by Yin Shenhua."

The city lords of each Immortal city were declaring their new allegiance as they slaughtered the Dayin officials and delegations in their cities.

Dozens of Immortal cities of Dayin defected simultaneously, causing ripples of strife across the empire.

At that moment, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was standing within the city lord's manor at Zixia. He smiled in satisfaction upon seeing the entire city under his control.

"Well done," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said to the city lord of Zixia. "With me around, your city will be safe from all assault."

"I am honored to serve you, Martial Aspect," the city lord replied.

Just then, the defensive formation around the city shook violently.

Everyone turned to the skies and gasped as Yin Mingwang's fierce figure was revealed.

"Yin Mingwang?" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost exclaimed.

"Traitors to Dayin who collude with foreign forces, prepare to die!" Yin Mingwang shouted.

The city lord of Zixia blanched. He shouted, "Martial Aspect, he's here! What do we do?"

"Worry not. I'm here," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied confidently.

Yin Mingwang attacked the city's defensive formation once again. It shook violently, causing a crack to appear.

"Inform all nearby Golden Immortals to assist me in taking down Yin Mingwang," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost commanded his subordinates.

His subordinates' avatars immediately contacted the Golden Immortals in other Immortal cities.

As Yin Mingwang continued to attack the city's defensive formation until it was just moments from breaking, the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost thundered, "Well? What's going on? Why hasn't there been a response from the other Golden Immortals yet?!"

"Something's wrong, Martial Aspect," a subordinate reported. "Those Golden Immortals are embroiled in fighting themselves. Their avatars can't assist us."

"Why would they be fighting among themselves?!"

"Allegedly, some Golden Immortals started turning on their allies. Everything's in turmoil now."

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost narrowed his eyes. "Damn it. We've been tricked! Some forces in collusion with us must have been Yin Shenhua's allies. They're ruining our plans at this critical moment."

With a huge, resounding crash, Yin Mingwang broke through Zixia's defensive formation and headed straight for the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cursed as he took to the skies.

"Trying to run? It's too late!" Yin Mingwang transformed into the form of a peacock as he swooped down toward the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, sending the latter flying.

"Hurry! Inform the other Martial Aspects to help me!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled.

"The other Martial Aspects are being targeted by Dayin's Golden Immortals themselves!"

"Then inform the Eastern Aspect! Hurry!"

"The Eastern Aspect is taking on Yin Shenhua!"

"What? No—this was a ploy against us!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost exclaimed.

The peacock's attacks grew fiercer and fiercer. Though the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was strong, he was no stronger than the peacock, whose heavy blows left him spitting out blood.

He had no inclination to fight any longer. He turned to flee.

However, before he could get away, he saw a Buddha appear in front of him, cutting off his escape route. The Buddha's attack caught him by surprise, sending him flying back. The peacock, chasing after him from behind, pierced through his chest with sharp claws.

"No!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shrieked. The peacock tore his body in half and devoured it all.

Then, without any hesitation, he shouted, "Time to take down the next Martial Aspect!"