Wayfarer

Chapter 625: Dividing Up the World

Back in Dayin's capital, by the time Xiao Nanfeng and the gathered Martial Aspects arrived, the defensive formations around the city had been activated, and all its gates were tightly shut.

Ao Canghai looked toward the Venerable Buddha and probed, "Venerable Buddha, have you become a Boundless Immortal?"

The black lotus nodded. "Is Yin Shenhua around?"

Ao Canghai was clearly discomfited by the fact that his guess was correct, but he rallied, "Upon learning of your intentions, Yin Shenhua guessed that you might have recently broken through. He rushed back into the city and erected a special defensive formation."

"Oh?" Everyone looked toward Dayin's capital.

The defensive formation was embedded with 卍 runes and radiated with golden light.

"Venerable Buddha, the two of us should be able to break down this defensive formation. Shall we attack?"

Since the black lotus was now a Boundless Immortal, it deserved Ao Canghai's full attention.

The black lotus considered the proposal for a moment. "You cannot break through this formation."

"Oh?" Ao Canghai said.

"This formation is filled with an incredible expanse of law, natural and artificial. Yin Shenhua must have used Dayin's code of laws to establish this formation, and it even includes the natural laws that he contemplated in his past life. It could devour a Boundless Immortal if we were to batter it down forcibly," the black lotus said.

"Dayin's code of laws?" Ao Canghai frowned and looked up at the sky. He narrowed his eyes. "Indeed, Dayin's sea of fortune is roiling. It's likely been connected to this formation."

"Yin Shenhua must be searching for supporters at this moment. If things drag out, we'll lose our decisive advantage. Venerable Buddha, do you have any means of breaking down this formation?" Ao Canghai asked.

The black lotus shook its head. "I've only regained a fraction of my power, and cannot break this formation.

"It's not difficult to break this formation," Xiao Nanfeng opined from their side.

"Oh?" Everyone turned to Xiao Nanfeng.

"As long as all three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin defect from the empire, this sea of fortune would collapse immediately. By that time, Dayin's code of laws wouldn't be able to support this formation."

"You make it sound easy, but we've only managed to secure roughly a dozen cities among ourselves, and the situation is hardly finalized. How long would it take to wrest control of all three hundred Immortal cities of Dayin? What if Yin Shenhua manages to secure strong support before then?" Ao Canghai frowned.

"Dayin is even closer to collapse than before, and Yin Shenhua wouldn't dare casually manipulate Dayin's fortune. His citizens might not lend him any of their strength, after all. As for the destruction of Dayin and its three hundred Immortal cities—that's within my grasp," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Ao Canghai gaped at Xiao Nanfeng, sure that he was just bragging.

"Leave it to me. Dayin will lose all of its Immortal cities within three days' time," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

All the gathered Martial Aspects stared at Xiao Nanfeng in disbelief.

In Dayin's imperial study, Yin Shenhua had curbed his anger and was avoiding a direct confrontation. He knew full well how strong the Venerable Buddha was. Although the Venerable Buddha had just become a Boundless Immortal, the fact that he was able to overwhelm the ten Buddha Emperors of eighty thousand years past was testament to his strength.

"Xiao Nanfeng was the one helping the Venerable Buddha regain its strength. Damn him! If I had known about this earlier, I would have killed him," Yin Shenhua gritted out. He turned to his subordinates. "Why hasn't the Immortal Emperor of Dachi replied yet?"

"My avatar just encountered him, Your Majesty," a subordinate volunteered.

"I'll speak with him directly. Relay his words to me," Yin Shenhua commanded.

"Understood!"

"Immortal Emperor of Dachi, you promised that you would take on the Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant alongside me. Why have you retreated?" Yin Shenhua demanded.

The subordinate replied, parroting the Immortal Emperor of Dachi's words, "I've already made my move. Didn't my subordinates help you hold some Martial Aspects back? My subordinates helped you defend against external forces as well."

"You haven't done enough. You didn't stop the Venerable Buddha from killing my son," Yin Shenhua accused.

"You've given me far too little. This is as much as I'm willing to contribute at present."

Yin Shenhua's eyes twitched. "You intend to extort me at this point?"

"You want me to work for you. Do you think I'm that cheap?"

Yin Shenhua's tone grew cold. "What do you want?"

"In addition to the Immortal cities I subverted on my own, I want a hundred more. That's the price for my assistance."

An expression of malice flickered over Yin Shenhua's features.

"Very well. Assist me, then," Yin Shenhua spat out, eyes red.

He would start by coaxing the Immortal Emperor of Dachi into making a move. Once the crisis was resolved, he would have final say over whether or not to hand over those hundred cities.

"That won't do. If I make a move, I'll officially be declaring war against the Imperial Court. If you want me to do so, it'll have to wait until those hundred Immortal cities are handed over first," the Immortal Emperor of Dachi replied.

"You dare make a fool of me?!" Yin Shenhua gritted out.

Within the palace at Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Wen Zhong. "Mr. Wen, I need Dayin's three hundred Immortal cities to fall within three days."

Wen Zhong glanced at him seriously. "The final step," he murmured.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The various Immortal Emperors will surely bargain with Yin Shenhua for the time being as they try to get maximum benefit for minimum effort. Yin Shenhua won't relent easily, but they may come to an agreement with sufficient time. We can't afford to delay. Within three days, I want to ensure that Yin Shenhua has no chance of revival."

"Very well, Your Majesty. Let us act according to the fourth step of the plan you have outlined: to divide up Dayin."

"Let's begin," Xiao Nanfeng agreed.

"Understood!"

Within the city lord's manor of a seemingly loyal Immortal city of Dayin, a youth looked toward a middle-aged man seated within the manor. "On His Majesty's orders, I have come to seek another audience, Clan Head Li. I beg your pardon."

The middle-aged man, Clan Head Li, gave him a small smile. "It matters not. Does Xiao Nanfeng have new information for me?"

"Clan Head Li, you're aware of the situation in Dayin's capital, aren't you?" the youth asked.

"We do pay careful attention to the empire at large, but I'd like a detailed summary from you to confirm the facts," Clan Head Li stated.

"After the Venerable Buddha absorbed a host of cursed effigies, it reached the realm of a Boundless Immortal and is prepared to take on Yin Shenhua alongside Ao Canghai and the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court. However, Yin Shenhua has gone into hiding within Dayin, and even erected a formation using Dayin's code of laws. No one is able to enter, and the Martial Aspects have all been stymied. In addition, he's currently seeking aid from the Immortal Emperors in the vicinity of his empire. They must be discussing terms at the moment," the youth said.

"As we expected," Clan Head Li surmised. He continued, "And what are your plans?"

"We hope for Dayin to lose its supply of fortune as quickly as possible in order for Dayin's code of laws to lose its efficacy and to shatter the formation around Dayin's capital. At that time, the Venerable Buddha and Ao Canghai will take down Yin Shenhua together. We'll need your support, and it has to be provided within the next two days," the youth said.

Clan Head Li narrowed his eyes. "Taking down a divine empire in two days? How bold Xiao Nanfeng is. Does his plan have a chance of success?"

"Of course, Clan Head Li. Just like has been done here, ten Immortal cities can be liberated all at once."

"Oh?" Clan Head Li narrowed his eyes.

"Clan Head Li, you've been stationed in Dayin all this time. I'm sure the members of your sect have been roaming all over the empire as well.Dayin's people are losing their respect and faith in their emperor. You have plenty of disciples in your sect, Clan Head Li, who serve as city lords in the various Immortal cities. Countless disciples from your sect are in instrumental positions for the cities' continued function. If you're willing to split up from the empire and establish a new, independent empire in your own right, then these ten Immortal cities shall be yours. The fortune they generate will be a strategic reserve for your sect."

Clan Head Li stared at the youth. "Do you intend for my sect's disciples to rebel against Dayin?"

The youth smiled. "Isn't that what you've been busy with lately, Clan Head Li?"

"Rebellion will invite backlash, and Yin Shenhua is no easy opponent."

"Clan Head Li, you're a Golden Immortal, and your sect is strong in terms of cultivators and resources. You have little need to worry about backlash. Yin Shenhua will surely fall after the war; who would punish you for your rebellion? Rather, the time has come to strike. This opportunity is fleeting: if Yin Shenhua has the chance to recover and enlist the support of other Immortal Emperors, all your planning will be for naught. You don't want to lose this opportunity yourself, do you?" The youth smiled.

Clan Head Li's eyes twitched. Indeed, he was moved.

"Clan Head Li, don't worry. Dazheng has planned to take on Dayin for a long time, and we're confident that there are many independent factions like yours, in addition to external divine empires and ordinary empires alike. They're all planning on making a move. We've already established connections with multiple independent parties. Just like me, other Dazheng envoys have been sent to convince the city lords and clan heads from all across Dayin to revolt at the same time. Three days later, Dayin's three hundred Immortal cities will be split apart," the youth promised.

Clan Head Li considered the situation for a long moment before he nodded. "Very well. Xiao Nanfeng's actions have built a strong foundation on which we may take action against Dayin. We owe him a favor. We are willing to support and coordinate with Xiao Nanfeng on our defection."

"My gratitude, Clan Head Li," the youth replied.

"There is no time to lose. I shall gather my disciples and prepare to found a new empire. We will take two days to establish our plan. On the third day, we will do as Xiao Nanfeng suggests."

"That is excellent news." The youth smiled.

The same situation was taking place in many Immortal cities all across Dayin. Dazheng's envoys were convincing the scattered city lords, or the factions behind them, into seizing their independence.

Dazheng would gain little direct reward from their independence, no status, position, or land. Even so, it still exerted tremendous effort to have these plans come to fruition at a rapid rate.

On one hand, it would allow Xiao Nanfeng to deal with Yin Shenhua more quickly. On the other, the dissolution of Dayin into many small empires was a superior option to allowing other external forces to gain control of them. Furthermore, if Dazheng were to wage war in the future, it would be far easier to take down many independent empires than a few stronger enemies.