Wayfarer

Chapter 567: A Kamikaze Attack

On a huge floating island in Dayin, Mo Shanhe, Yin Tianci, and Tang were watching the martial tournament from afar.

"How sinister Xiao Nanfeng is. Tang was right—he's growing far too quickly. He's already able to take on mid-stage True Yin cultivators, and eight of them at once!" Yin Tianci exclaimed.

"Your Highness, Prime Minister, Xiao Nanfeng's success is in large part due to the golden net that he possesses," Tang pointed out.

Mo Shanhe pursed his lips. "I took his golden net into account, but didn't expect that he would be able to attune it to this extent."

"Are there other mid-stage True Yin cultivators participating?" Yin Tianci asked.

Mo Shanhe shook his head. "None. It was tough enough getting this group in there."

"Doesn't that mean that Xiao Nanfeng's going to dominate the rest of the tournament, then?" Yin Tianci frowned.

"Your Highness, I believe the prime minister still has a trump card," Tang said.

"Oh?"

Mo Shanhe nodded. "Two days ago, someone sold a Sunfell Bow and some Sunstrike Arrows to a government-run armory in the capital."

"A Sunfell Bow and some Sunstrike Arrows? Those relics specifically counter Xiao Nanfeng's cultivation technique, don't they?" Tang frowned.

Yin Tianci gaped as well. "I thought of those relics when I was attempting to figure out how to deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but even Dayin's treasury had no materials with which to forge them. What made someone sell them to a government-run armory in Dayin all of a sudden—and two days before the martial tournament, at that? Is this part of some scheme?"

"Xiao Nanfeng has enemies within the Imperial Court, it seems." Mo Shanhe smiled.

"Xiao Nanfeng's enemies did this? They're trying to take advantage of us, then." Yin Tianci narrowed his eyes.

"Enjoy the show," Mo Shanhe said.

"Oh?" Yin Tianci glanced toward the tournament grounds.

A golden beam of light had shot into the air from afar. It struck one of Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows down, causing a commotion among the spectators.

"Ha! There they are. Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows are done for now!" Yin Tianci's eyes lit up.

"It's time to go. I'll be presiding over this show," Mo Shanhe said.

"You can't, Prime Minister!" Tang suddenly shouted.

"And why not?" Mo Shanhe frowned.

"Xiao Nanfeng's sly and cunning. What if he was the one who had someone sell a Sunfell Bow and these Sunstrike Arrows to Dayin? I fear that a scheme awaits us. Prime Minister, there are plenty of unknown elements at the martial tournament. I urge caution lest you fall into Xiao Nanfeng's trap," Tang said immediately.

"You're overthinking things. I have a plan in mind," Mo Shanhe replied coolly.

"Prime Minister, please!" Tang called out again.

"There's no need," Mo Shanhe refused bluntly.

He and his subordinates flew toward the outskirts of the city.

"Tang, your fears are unwarranted. Come on, let's have a look too."

"Your Highness, why don't we watch from here? Please believe in my judgment. I can't help but suspect that Xiao Nanfeng might have orchestrated this entire affair. Things might not be as clear from here, but we can still see what's going on. You can't head out, Your Highness!" Tang stepped forward to bar Yin Tianci's way.

Yin Tianci frowned. Although he didn't much believe that it would be dangerous, he was willing to humor Tang. "Very well."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness."

Meanwhile, beyond the tournament grounds, Ao Shuai and a group of his subordinates stood at the peak of a mountain as they watched what was happening below. They were shrouded in fog and had even disguised themselves as a second layer of defense to shield their identity. Ao Shuai had transformed into a frail, elderly man walking about with a cane.

"To think Xiao Nanfeng would be able to use the golden net to this extent... He's able to trap even mid-stage True Yin cultivators!"

"He's strong enough to suppress all cultivators at his level and below now. It's no surprise that he dared to participate in Dayin's martial tournament—but if he can't find the princess, he might well be done for," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost commented, disguised beside him.

"He won't have any such opportunity any longer. He's going to die," Ao Shuai replied, snickering.

"Oh?"

Just then, a golden beam of light shot down one of Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows. The crow's body exploded and formed a huge pit of flames on the ground.

"A Sunfell Bow, and some Sunstrike Arrows? I recall you recently acquired a set of those relics, Master. Could that archer have been..." The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned.

"Don't worry. I would hardly send someone to assassinate a Martial Aspect. I simply found myself lacking in gold recently, so I sold those relics off for spending money. Who would have expected that they would appear here in Dayin? It's hardly my fault," Ao Shuai said innocently.

Ao Shuai was preening at his 'well-executed' plan.

"Master, how could you? If someone were to figure out what happened—"

"It won't happen. It's none of my business, after all. Look, the second Sunstrike Arrow's already being launched," Ao Shuai called out.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost was anxious. He couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The second Sunstrike Arrow headed straight for another of Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows.

The golden crow clawed at the arrow, sensing life-threatening danger. Its fellow crows did the same, spraying out breaths of flame to assist the targeted crow.

Their combined efforts successfully blocked the second arrow.

"Die!" Xiao Nanfeng cursed.

He immediately shot the remaining lengths of rope from his golden net at the archer in the distance.

"Xiao Nanfeng, it looks like you're not invincible, after all! We won't let you catch him!" a mid-stage True Yin cultivator shouted.

Two of the cultivators blocked the lengths of rope with their own bodies, causing themselves to be bound even more tightly. Even so, they didn't care. Xiao Nanfeng was in danger now.

"You won't be able to escape, Xiao Nanfeng!"

The other mid-stage True Yin cultivators shot toward Xiao Nanfeng and prevented him from being able to attack the archer.

Xiao Nanfeng was sent careening back, but his blade managed to nick one of the bound cultivators.

The intense fight continued; none could relax.

The golden crows charged toward the archer in fury.

"Hold Xiao Nanfeng and the golden crows back. Protect that archer and let him shoot down all the crows!" someone shouted.

Six spiritual moons blocked six of the golden crows.

The remaining three golden crows shot toward the archer, only to be stymied by three mid-stage True Yin cultivators.

They surrounded Xiao Nanfeng and blocked his attacks.

"Hurry and shoot!" they shouted at the archer. "Kill Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows!"

"Understood!"

Another beam of golden light shot at a golden crow. It tried to hide, but the True Yin cultivators around stalled it in place until the arrow landed.

The second golden crow cawed as the arrow struck its body.

Everyone was in shock now. It was evident that Xiao Nanfeng was about to suffer.

"Well done!" a True Yin cultivator shouted.

The golden crow burst apart in a torrent of flames that dyed heaven and earth a burnished gold. The flames struck a True Yin cultivator caught in its midst.

The flames overwhelmed him and sent him flying away.

The remaining flames transformed into golden light that shot into Xiao Nanfeng's body and vanished in his dantian.

Xiao Nanfeng, seemingly incensed, shot straight toward the True Yin cultivator that had been blown away by the explosion.

He beheaded that cultivator in a spurt of blood, killing him on the spot. At the same time, his spiritual moon exploded after being untethered from its owner and dissipated in a cloud of yin qi, freeing one of Xiao Nanfeng's golden crows.

"I'll hold it in place!" Another True Yin cultivator shot forward to take down that golden crow.

Another Sunstrike Arrow shot toward the third golden crow, which cawed in outrage. The True Yin cultivator that had been holding the crow back widened his eyes as the crow exploded and drowned him in a sea of flames. The third golden crow had chosen to self-destruct. The resulting flames transformed into golden light that headed back into Xiao Nanfeng's body.

All the cultivators, competitors and spectators alike, sucked in a deep breath.

"How vicious Xiao Nanfeng is. He knew his crow wouldn't be able to avoid the arrow and chose to use it to take down that True Yin cultivator with him!"

"These Sunstrike Arrows have special formations embedded within them that allow them to destroy the golden crows. Rather than wait for the golden crows to die, he chose to actively use them to target his opponents instead. He really is ruthless."

"What a fight..."

The cultivators watched on with shock.

The moment the True Yin cultivator within the firestorm showed himself, Xiao Nanfeng charged at him with his blade.

"Save me!" he shouted.

A nearby cultivator tried to help, sending Xiao Nanfeng flying, but Xiao Nanfeng tossed his blade toward the grievously wounded cultivator and managed to cut off his head.

Another True Yin cultivator had fallen; his spiritual moon dissipated as well.

Xiao Nanfeng landed on the ground, the impact sending boulders and rocks into the air.

Seven golden crows were yet unharmed; they stood against four True Yin cultivators and their spiritual moons. Xiao Nanfeng was on the losing end of things.

Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, recalling the divine undying blade as he shot toward the archer.

"Protect me!" the archer cried out.

One True Yin cultivator instantly headed for him. He shouted fiercely, "Keep shooting down those golden crows! Everyone else, block Xiao Nanfeng with me!"

"Understood!" A chorus of replies came from all around.

The archer nocked and loosed another arrow.