Wayfarer

Chapter 646: Criticism Before Praise

Within the Palace of the Moon, the praying mat lay forlorn in a pavilion, with cold wind blowing by. It had been abandoned once more.

Beside the pavilion was Zhang Lingjun's bedroom, sealed with countless formations.

Within, Xiao Nanfeng had his arms draped around Zhang Lingjun. He crooned, "A Golden Immortal's physique is truly incredible. You can even overwhelm me in bed now."

Zhang Lingjun blushed and pounded on Xiao Nanfeng's chest. "No more of this cultivation talk!"

Xiao Nanfeng laughed. "Alright, alright, I'll stop."

"Should I really not learn these loss chants?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"Why would you?"

"With the praying mat's assistance, my loss chants might be even stronger than usual. What's more, they can help boost my spiritual cultivation too. Isn't it a good deal?"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "You're already cultivating quickly enough. I don't want you to take the risk."

"Is it risky?"

"I don't know. I told the Heaven disciples about my worries. and they chose to attune to these loss chants themselves. As for you, I don't want to experiment with you. Even the tiniest hint of danger is too much for me."

"Very well," Zhang Lingjun said, her heart oozing with sweetness. "I'll listen to you." She lay in Xiao Nanfeng's embrace. Then, moments later, she asked, "Have you not broken through recently?"

"I've advanced significantly, but I'm still far from my next breakthrough. We haven't been cultivating together for long, so it's only to be expected. Let's not get hasty."

"No one's asking about that!" Zhang Lingjun blushed again. "Will it be troublesome for you to accompany me daily?"

"That's my most important task at the moment. I haven't forgotten about my other responsibilities, but they're largely being handled by my avatar. The investigation within the Imperial Court is still in progress as well."

Zhang Lingjun smiled fondly. "Has anything come out of the investigation into the Demon Child?"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Demon Child was taken advantage of."

"By whom?"

"We don't know yet, but the motive likely has to do with the upcoming Martial Aspect selection."

"Could one of Ao Canghai's confidantes be responsible, then? Is he trying to sour the relationship between you and the Demon Child so as to incite him to take revenge on your candidates during the selection?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "If only it were so straightforward."

"Oh?"

"The selection starts in two days. We can watch the upcoming spectacle together," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling.

Zhang Lingjun nodded firmly.

Two days later, in the Sieve of Heaven's violet drill grounds, a forested area surrounded by a large-scale barrier of violet light, the vast majority of the Imperial Court's Martial Aspects had gathered to witness the selection of five new Martial Aspects in the Eastern Quadrant.

Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun and Ao Zhou were at the scene alongside Ye Dafu and his crew of golden cultivators.

"Wasn't the plan to have Zhao Yuanjiao, Croak, and the others participate? Why are none of them here?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"They aren't coming. We'll have Ye Dafu and the others take the stage for now."

"Why?"

"Our nominees have to experience defeat before success, and they'll have to make a spectacle of it. Ye Dafu and his crew have better acting skills," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Zhang Lingjun cocked her head, not understanding the plan fully.

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Ye Dafu and the others. "Are you all ready?"

'Don't worry, Your Majesty. We're excellent at getting beaten up," Ye Dafu said.

"Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Your Majesty, is it that little brat radiating killing intent over there?" Ye Dafu asked, pointing in a certain direction.

Everyone turned to see the Demon Child glaring daggers at Xiao Nanfeng, as if he wanted to eat him alive.

"That's right. That's the Demon Child," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Wonderful. We'll head his way in a moment," Ye Dafu said in excitement.

Just then, Ao Canghai strode up to the front of the plaza as everyone quieted down.

Ao Canghai took a deep breath. "The other three Cardinal Aspects have recommended that I oversee this Martial Aspect selection. Five Martial Aspects have recently perished within the Eastern Quadrant, and their seats must be filled quickly. All who qualify as substitute Martial Aspects may participate in the selection process. Observe the Martial Aspect banners in my hand. In three days' time, when the barrier sealing the violet drill grounds is opened up once again, whoever emerges with a banner will be one of the new Martial Aspects."

Ao Canghai unfurled five banners and tossed them through the violet barrier. The nominees eyed them fervently.

"Now, all those with nominations may enter the drill grounds," Ao Canghai said.

"Understood!"

The substitute Martial Aspects swarmed toward the barrier, where they were let in by dedicated officials.

Meanwhile, Ao Canghai walked toward a hall in the vicinity, where he could sit and rest while observing everything occurring within the grounds.

"Eastern Aspect, Xiao Nanfeng's five True Immortal subordinates have entered bearing nominations," a Martial Aspect whispered.

Ao Canghai's expression was dour. He had handed those five nominations to Xiao Nanfeng to help clear his son's name for the crime he had committed. He had thought little of it at the time, believing that Xiao Nanfeng would perish in Dayin's capital. However, Xiao Nanfeng had lived to return to the Imperial Court as a hero, whereas his son had died as a result of Xiao Nanfeng. His hatred was, at that moment, overwhelming.

"And the arrangements?" Ao Canghai demanded.

"They're all settled. Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates will die," the Martial Aspect replied.

"Very good." Ao Canghai nodded.

The violet barrier was extraordinary and behaved like a one-sided mirror. Those outside could see those inside, but not the other way around. A group of cultivators were waiting by the peak of a mountaintop within the barrier, scanning their surroundings and in search of something.

"Watch them closely. Once Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates enter, finish them off in the name of eliminating competition for the banners. Avenge Young Master Ao for the Eastern Aspect," their leader said.

"Understood!"

"Shout out once you've found them," the cultivator in purple said.

The cultivators continued to watch the incoming competitors until one of them suddenly called out, "I've found them! Ye Dafu's group of five is all over there!"

The cultivators' eyes brightened. They were about to rush over when a shout could be heard in the distance.

"There they are! Beat them up! Beat them to death!" a child's voice called out.

The Demon Child, demon-subduing golden hoop in hand, was rushing toward Ye Dafu and his group of golden cultivators. A group of fierce cultivators radiating malice followed behind him.

"Die!" they roared.

Ye Dafu and the others 'blanched' as they turned to run, but they were unable to outrun the Demon Child. They were quickly subject to a beating, one that sent clouds of dust rising into the air.

"No, no more! It hurts!"

"Spare me! Ouch!"

"I want to go home! Stop beating me!"

Ye Dafu and his crew began to howl and whine piteously, while the Demon Child watched on in excitement. He began to cackle. "Ha! Serves you right for being Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates. I'm going to beat all of you to the point where your own mothers won't recognize you, haha!"

The Demon Child and his gang continued to beat up Ye Dafu and his crew. Meanwhile, Ao Canghai's cultivators glanced at each other in consternation. What was going on? Ye Dafu was already getting beaten up! Were they supposed to jump in, too?

Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Zhang Lingjun frowned. "As you predicted, the Demon Child ended up securing a nomination as a substitute Martial Aspect. He's even gathered up a group of people to beat up Ye Dafu and the others..."

Before Xiao Nanfeng could speak, Black Dog suddenly appeared by their side.

He grimaced in sympathy. "Please spare me, Martial Aspect Xiao. I came to provide an explanation. The Demon Child threw a horrible tantrum that whole day, making a fuss even after we wrote to the Southern Aspect about what had happened. The Southern Aspect had no choice but to have me write him a nomination."

"Southern Aspect Yang intends for the Demon Child to take revenge on me, and even my subordinates?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"No, Martial Aspect. We investigated the situation and found that someone was deliberately trying to incite the Demon Child to cause trouble for you. I suspect Ao Canghai or his confidantes. I've explained the situation carefully to the Demon Child, and he was infuriated when he realized what was going on. He's participating in this selection only in an attempt to find the mastermind and take his revenge."

"Hm?"

"Please relax, Martial Aspect Xiao. The Demon Child's still a child, and I expect he's still mad at you for beating him up. He promised me that he would only take revenge on Ao Canghai's subordinates, not yours. He's just having a tantrum at the moment," Black Dog said apologetically.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "You claim that Ao Canghai was responsible. Is this what the Southern Aspect deduced?"

"No, Martial Aspect. The Southern Aspect is still in the Southern Sea and doesn't have time to figure out what's going on. This investigation was carried out by me and several Southern Martial Aspects," Black Dog replied.

"Oh? Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"Please allow me to apologize about your subordinates again."

"It doesn't matter. As long as the Demon Child doesn't kill them, they can chalk their beating up to a difference in skill. I won't blame you. I'm sure you have your own affairs to handle."

"Thank you, Martial Aspect Xiao!" Black Dog bowed again.

He was still feeling guilty as he left, but while passing by the golden cultivators watching from the outside, he heard a few strange remarks.

"Ah, I'm envious! Getting beaten up by the Demon Child must feel particularly comfortable."

"I'd like to be pounded with that golden hoop, too..."

"Me too! Why isn't it my turn?"

"Hear, hear!"

The golden cultivators on the outside of the barrier were whispering to themselves.

Black Dog paused, blinking. He frowned. Was he hearing things? Surely that couldn't be...