Wayfarer

Chapter 636: Golden Immortal Politics

Within a dim hall in the palace of the divine empire of Dachi, several officials were reporting to the Immortal Emperor of Dachi.

"Stratagems Against Yin?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi asked for clarification.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Although Xiao Nanfeng's strategy to defeat Dayin was carried out covertly, the scale of his actions means that he can't scrub all traces of his deeds completely. The plan he devised, Stratagems Against Yin, was divided into four portions: quelling external forces, inciting popular revolt, absorbing its cities, and dividing up the empire. The four steps are tightly coupled and build off of each other. The plan itself is exquisite in its simplicity, and I have written what we know of it in a booklet. Please have a look, Your Majesty," one official began.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi glanced at the proffered booklet and took a deep breath. "Yin Shenhua's loss was understandable. Xiao Nanfeng's fourfold stratagems are truly potent."

"Your Majesty, I believe the fault ultimately lies with Yin Shenhua for devouring his citizens and attempting to hide what he has done," the official suggested.

The Immortal Emperor of Dachi shook his head. "How many divine empires in the world do you think are truly innocent of such crimes? Every empire harbors a darkness; the ends justify the means."

The official bowed, not daring to speak.

"However, with the spread of this Stratagems Against Yin, countless empires around the world will surely attempt to strike at us divine empires. After all, if they can protect their own territory while exposing the darkness inherent in neighboring divine empires, they'll be able to reproduce Dazheng's success," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi said.

"Surely not, Your Majesty? Xiao Nanfeng only succeeded because the Martial Aspects were guarding his capital," the official argued.

"As you know, the Martial Aspects were only responsible for guarding Dazheng's capital. They weren't of much use otherwise. An ordinary empire, invoking the power of its people, should similarly be able to defend its capital from harm. What's more, ordinary empires can even band together to take on a divine empire. Wouldn't they have even greater success than Xiao Nanfeng then?" the Immortal Emperor of Dachi suggested.

The official sucked in a deep breath in response.

"The Stratagems Against Yin might well turn the tide of the world," the Immortal Emperor of Dayin predicted.

"We are prepared, Your Majesty," the official replied. "The Stratagems Against Yin won't have such a deleterious effect on our empire. What's more, it's not necessarily a good thing for Xiao Nanfeng to be so successful."

"Oh?"

"Xiao Nanfeng's capital, Yongding, has been attacked by Golden Immortals again."

"By whom?"

"We don't know, Your Majesty. They're hiding their identities, but it's clear that these Golden Immortals are only attacking now that the Martial Aspects have returned to the Imperial Court and the Venerable Buddha has perished. They're taking advantage of the situation. I suspect they're from empires in the vicinity who are attacking Dazheng for profit."

"For profit?" The Immortal Emperor of Dachi mulled over this reasoning.

"Indeed. Dayin's three hundred Immortal cities were divided among the world. Dachi only managed to claim sixteen of them, whereas Xiao Nanfeng himself gained forty. Attacking Dazheng will surely be a profitable venture as a result."

"Indeed. If Dazheng itself were to fall, we could vie over those forty Immortal cities as well." The Immortal Emperor of Dachi nodded.

"More importantly, there likely aren't any Golden Immortals in Yongding," the official replied.

Yongding's defensive formation had been activated at maximum strength.

Three black-robed cultivators hovered in the sky outside of Yongding. Their auras were overbearing—shockingly, they were all Golden Immortals.

Countless cultivators lay in wait within Yongding.

Ye Dafu stepped forward and announced, "Are you three cultivators confident that you want to take on Yongding? Dazheng was able to destroy Dayin, and it can do the same to the forces who have fostered you. If you dare attack Dazheng's capital, then we shall take revenge in kind."

"The Martial Aspects have left and the Venerable Buddha is dead. You True Immortals won't be able to guard the city against us."

"Xiao Nanfeng isn't back yet, is he? Looks like our timing is perfect."

"Let's make our move!"

The three Golden Immortals struck at Yongding simultaneously as Ye Dafu and the other golden cultivators soared into the air.

They were sent flying by the three Golden Immortals, only to have the wind all around Yongding rise up. Black gales spawned from nowhere as they surged toward the three attackers.

"A formation? Unfortunately for you, it won't be of any use against us Golden Immortals. Break!" a Golden Immortal shouted, striking at the formation.

Much of the black wind dissipated, but what remained propelled the three Golden Immortals into three void portals that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Is this the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm? It won't be able to trap us!" one Golden Immortal shouted as they were sucked in.

The three Golden Immortals blinked out of existence. Then, the twelve golden cultivators rushed into the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm to waylay them as well.

Silence reigned once more within the city of Yongding. Had the danger been nullified just like that?

Back in Yongding's palace, Wen Zhong stood by a secluded corner of a hall. "Blue Lantern, please trap these three Golden Immortals for longer."

"Of course, Mr. Wen. I've erected plenty of formations within the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm. My cultivation has advanced, as has the strength of my formations. With Ye Dafu and the others holding them back, the three Golden Immortals won't be freed for quite a while. However, I expect more Golden Immortals lie in wait."

"Worry not, Blue Lantern. I have a plan to deal with the other two."

"Very well." Blue Lantern nodded.

Blue Lantern himself stepped into the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm.

Wen Zhong suddenly turned around and smiled. "Croak, you don't have to follow right behind me all the time."

Croak shook its head. "Xiao Nanfeng told me to prioritize your safety at any cost. He told me to stick beside you and prioritize saving you in case of danger."

"Ah," Wen Zhong replied, smiling wryly. "Very well."

He turned away from Croak and toward a spectral guard waiting for him. "Have you uncovered their background?"

"We have, sir. Of the remaining two Golden Immortals, one is residing within an inn in Yongding, while the other is hidden in a forest right outside. Sir Blue Lantern sensed him with a formation," the spectral guard reported.

"And what do you know of them?" Wen Zhong asked.

"According to your strategy, Sir Wen, we've been preparing for a sneak attack. We keep careful track of the Golden Immortals directly or tangentially associated with us. Nine managed to evade our surveillance, and we believe that five among the nine are responsible for this assault."

"Good," Wen Zhong said.

Then, he turned to two of his subordinates. "Interact with the two Golden Immortals. Study their tone, appearance, and actions, then use the method of elimination to confirm their identities."

"Understood!" the two subordinates replied.

Three gray-clad figures stood by a window of a luxurious suite within an inn in Yongding. They watched on until the fighting outside Yongding ended and the three cultivators were whisked away.

"Grandmaster, aren't we going to make a move?" one gray-clad figure asked their leader.

"Do not underestimate Dazheng. Those three Golden Immortals weren't able to muster any resistance against Yongding. Who knows what other secrets lie hidden here? Have them serve as our scouts for the time being. We'll make a move accordingly," the middle-aged gray-clad man replied.

"Understood, Grandmaster."

"Dazheng is skilled to have been able to carry out its plan to destroy Dayin, but trying to claim forty Immortal cities on its own is a clear act of overextension. If Dazheng were at the peak of ordinary empires, it might have been reasonable—but for a medium-sized empire to try to devour forty Immortal cities all at once? Ha!"

"Wise you are, Grandmaster. We've been lying in wait within Yongding for some time. I'm sure their officials don't suspect that we're already here."

"If not for your prudence in trying to tease out Dazheng's aces, Grandmaster, you would easily be able to wipe out Yongding with a wave of your hand."

"Wise is our grandmaster!"

The other cultivators continued to fawn on their grandmaster.

Suddenly, a few knocks on the door to the suite abruptly terminated their conversation.

"Who's there?" one gray-clad man demanded.

The knocks continued.

Their leader frowned. His spiritual power could sense what was going on outside. He took a deep breath. "Open the door."

"Understood!"

The door to the suite quickly opened, revealing a youth dressed in the robes of a Dazheng official.

"Greetings, cultivators. I oversee rites and rituals in service to Dazheng." The youth smiled as he walked into the suite.

The gray-clad cultivators in the suite all had their faces covered in clouds of white fog.

From the cultivators' posture, the youth quickly deduced who their leader was, and stepped over to him.

The grandmaster smelled a strange aroma from the youth and subconsciously flicked it away.

The youth's eyes lit up as he smiled.

At the same time, a youth was reporting to Wen Zhong.

"Sir Wen, my avatar has entered the suite. Their leader seems to dislike the aroma of muscats, and attempted to dispel it in my presence. His left hand's fourth fingernail is somewhat clouded. His shoe size corresponds to the third standard, and the height of his shoulders to the fourth standard," the youth reported.

"Then that cultivator must be Clan Head Li. Begin negotiations," Wen Zhong commanded.

"Understood! With his identity revealed, things should proceed easily." The youth smiled.

Within the suite, the youth bowed. "I had been intending to send a cultivator familiar with you for discussions, Clan Head Li, but all such cultivators are currently away from Yongding. I'm afraid I had to serve as a substitute."

"What did you call me?" the gray-clad grandmaster demanded.

The other gray-clad cultivators surrounded the youth, as if they were facing a fearsome foe.

The youth smiled. "Please don't be upset, Clan Head Li. I come to negotiate bearing the sincerity of Dazheng. I am but an ordinary mortal. Surely you Immortals aren't afraid of me?"

Clan Head Li said frostily, "How did you know of our presence here?"

"Dazheng has a well-equipped information network. As for who betrayed you, Clan Head Li, I don't know myself. After all, we don't operate in the same department. I'm reaching out to you on behalf of the Department of Rites and Rituals," the youth continued.

Clan Head Li narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

"We want to do what you want to do, Clan Head Li." The youth smiled again.

Clan Head Li raised an eyebrow. He was intending to destroy Yongding and ruin Dazheng's foundations. Could Dazheng be planning to do the same to the empire he had recently gained?