Wayfarer

Chapter 600: The Fallen Martial Aspects

Xiao Nanfeng left the hall in which Ao Canghai was located as tension grew rife. The Martial Aspects frowned at each other.

"Eastern Aspect, must we strike?" a Martial Aspect asked.

"We've given our word, and we naturally have to keep it," Ao Canghai replied.

"Will it be problematic for us?"

"We'll see, won't we? You four, go," Ao Canghai commanded.

"Understood!" the four Martial Aspects replied.

The four Martial Aspects flew out of the hall and soared into the sky toward the location that Xiao Nanfeng had pinpointed. Before long, they had reached their destination. Even so, they were particularly careful. They shrouded themselves with fog and stopped \in a forest outside a city.

Flames licked the clouds above the city as a storm swelled. It was clear that intense fighting was taking place within.

Ye Dafu's group of twelve golden cultivators were taking on a black ape spirit. Plenty of Immortals were standing in two halves of the city, as though waiting for the ape and golden cultivators to finish their battle before making a move themselves.

The ape was incredibly strong. It sent out a flurry of punches, repeatedly knocking the golden cultivators back. Although the golden cultivators were badly injured, they happily flew back to rejoin the fight.

"You insolent fools! You dare stand before me?!" the ape spirit roared.

"You're the fool! Eighteen Martial Aspects are guarding the empire of Dazheng. You must have a death wish if you're attempting to attack it!"

"Right, beat me to death if you dare!"

"If you can't, it means you're clearly lacking in strength!"

"Imagine calling yourself Sage Black Ape when you're nothing more than a weakling! Put more force in your punches!"

The golden cultivators continued to taunt the black ape.

"I'll kill you!" Sage Black Ape roared.

The twelve golden cultivators were sent flying like flowers being scattered from a basket. Though they were beaten black and blue, they continued to fly toward the ape.

The four Martial Aspects hidden in the forest eyed each other skeptically.

"Sage Black Ape? This is the general leading the fifty thousand Immortals of Dayin? Is it that difficult for a Golden Immortal to handle a group of True Immortals?" A Martial Aspect frowned.

"Beware of a trick," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost warned.

"What should we do now? Should we strike?" the Martial Aspect asked.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost narrowed his eyes. These golden cultivators are part of Xiao Nanfeng's retinue. Let's wait until one of them dies before making our move."

"Very well!" the other three Martial Aspects replied.

They were Ao Canghai's subordinates and were perfectly happy to see Xiao Nanfeng's forces be weakened by the war that he had started. They had promised to take on the Golden Immortals of Dayin, but when to do so was up to them.

As the four Martial Aspects watched on, Ye Dafu suddenly turned in their direction. "Martial Aspects, save us!"

Afar, the four Martial Aspects frowned. They didn't know how Ye Dafu had noticed them despite how well they had hidden.

Just then, a golden bowl was suddenly flung their way.

"An ambush!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost cried out, punching at the bowl.

Lightning flashed down, blocking the golden bowl. Next came a golden lotus, followed by a large quantity of Golden Immortal relics.

Not only that, a number of figures rushed right over. In the lead was a golden roc glowing with light. It swooped forward at incredible speed, closing in on a panicking Martial Aspect and clawing at it.

"Damn it, it's an ambush! Inform the Eastern Aspect immediately!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost howled.

A howling storm was unleashed where the four Martial Aspects were located, destroying the forest that was their hiding spot. A group of Golden Immortals began to launch their attack as Ye Dafu and the golden cultivators continued to hinder Sage Black Ape.

Sage Black Ape clearly wanted to help his fellow cultivators, but he was infuriated by the golden cultivators that continued to get in his way.

"You wretched fools! I was simply delaying until reinforcements arrived. Do you really think I can't kill you? Die!" the black ape shouted.

The twelve golden cultivators were sent flying one after the other, all spitting out mouthfuls of blood. Their injuries had clearly worsened.

Just then, a cloud of black fog appeared behind Sage Black Ape. A golden palm emerged from the fog, striking his lower back and sending him flying into a mountain. The mountain was smashed to bits.

"Who dares?!" Sage Black Ape cried out.

The black fog flashed over to its side and dealt him a heavy blow that caused the mountains themselves to rumble.

"No!" Sage Black Ape cried out, then drew breath no more.

The black fog flashed away.

The moment the black fog appeared, the golden cultivators and the Dazheng Immortals they led made to strike at the Dayin Immortals that had previously only been watching the fight. Though they were no match for the black ape, they easily finished off these ordinary Immortals.

Just then, more beams of golden light appeared. Some of the Martial Aspects' subordinates had rushed over, noticed that something was wrong, and quickly sent word to Ao Canghai. The other Martial Aspects were making their way over now.

"Flee!" a voice shouted.

The Golden Immortals of Dayin soared into the air and flew off toward the horizon.

"Don't let them run off. Give chase!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.

The four Martial Aspects hidden in the forest had been the subject of a sneak attack. Three of them were bloodied and badly injured, whereas the fourth had transformed into dragon form. A roc had speared its claws through its body and was fleeing with it.

"Stand right there, you bastard!" Ao Canghai gave chase.

The Martial Aspects who had just rushed over surrounded the three badly wounded Martial Aspects. "What happened?"

"It was a trap. Dayin's general, Sage Black Ape, deliberately held off Ye Dafu and his fellow cultivators in a stalemate to lure us out. They even had a group of Golden Immortals lay an ambush for us. We were caught unprepared," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost said.

"Is Yin Shenhua that malicious?" The Martial Aspects all seemed vexed.

Before long, Ao Canghai returned from afar, with half a dragon's corpse in his hands.

"The Martial Aspect of Bluefrost is dead!" the other Martial Aspects exclaimed.

Ao Canghai's face was dark and furious as he held the remnants of the corpse. In a chilling tone, he shouted, "Xiao Nanfeng, I know you're around. Show yourself!"

A figure flew in from close by, none other than Xiao Nanfeng himself.

"Martial Aspect, has the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost perished?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"Did you know that there would be a large number of Golden Immortals planning an ambush here?" Ao Canghai demanded.

"I didn't. I only just learned of what had happened. Yin Shenhua's far too malicious," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost shook his head. "That's not true. Ye Dafu discovered us first. You must have been aware of the situation in advance. You did this deliberately!"

"Martial Aspect of Violetfrost, Ye Dafu was saving you. Couldn't you tell?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Saving us? If he hadn't exposed us, we wouldn't have been attacked!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost raged.

"Martial Aspects, I don't know what all of you were thinking. The Eastern Aspect sent you to deal with Sage Black Ape. Why were you hiding in the dark to observe the fight instead? Were you going to wait for Sage Black Ape to kill off my subordinates first?"

"We had to figure out what was going on in order to make our move," the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost replied.

"Ridiculous! You were being idiotic. You've ruined my plans and my advantage," Xiao Nanfeng declared.

"What?!" the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost roared.

"If even Ye Dafu had been able to sense your location, do you think the Golden Immortals lying in ambush would have failed to do so?"

"We—" The Martial Aspect of Violetfrost frowned.

They had hidden themselves well. How had they been discovered?

"If you had struck sooner and killed Sage Black Ape together, those Golden Immortals from Dayin would have made their move sooner. You might all have escaped injury. However, you were trying to be clever, thinking that you lay hidden when in fact you were exposed to one and all! Why else do you think the Golden Immortals of Dayin prepared an ambush for you? If Ye Dafu hadn't warned you in advance, those Immortals would have been able to prepare further and kill more of you simultaneously. All four of you may have perished! Ye Dafu forced them to strike when they weren't yet ready, exposing you and saving your lives! How dare you criticize him?!"

The three badly wounded Martial Aspects frowned. They glanced at Ao Canghai, not knowing how to explain themselves at that moment.

Ao Canghai glanced at that half of a dragon corpse he held in his hands. His eyes were cold. "I shall investigate the situation. All those who plotted to kill the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost shall be taken down in turn."

"I regret the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's passing. However, just now, my senior arrived and slew Sage Black Ape. Consider the Martial Aspect of Bluefrost's vengeance partially satisfied," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

He retrieved Sage Black Ape's carcass, which the black lotus had given to him. Of course, it was the black lotus who had discovered the four Martial Aspects hidden in the forest and had sent Ye Dafu a mental transmission as well.

"That cursed effigy of yours is here too?" Ao Canghai demanded.

"That's right. It's chasing down those Golden Immortals from Dayin right now."

Ao Canghai frowned. He instantly guessed what had happened. The Golden Immortals of Dayin had laid an ambush, which Xiao Nanfeng had discovered. Then, he superimposed his own plot to wound both the Martial Aspects and the Golden Immortals of Dayin, leaving his side to benefit.

"I see what you've done, Xiao Nanfeng," Ao Canghai said. His eyes flashed.

"You honor me, Eastern Aspect. It's a pity that the Martial Aspect of Violetfrost and the others deliberately dragged out the battle. Otherwise, this situation wouldn't have turned out quite so dire," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Ao Canghai glared at Xiao Nanfeng, then turned. "Let's return."

He flew off toward Yongding with half a dragon's corpse in his hands. His subordinate Martial Aspects joined him after giving Xiao Nanfeng a glare.

Once all the Martial Aspects had departed, Ye Dafu headed over as well. "Your Majesty, we've dealt with all the other Dayin Immortals who have come to attack this city."

"That's not good enough. The Golden Immortals of Dayin have fled, and the remaining Immortal invaders will likely do the same. Now, according to our plan, we'll kill off as many of them as we can, as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others replied.