Wayfarer

Chapter 996: Xiao Nanfeng's World Tree

The golden tree stood a hundred meters tall, emitting a dazzling radiance and an extraordinary aura. Just one glance was enough to captivate Madam Rouge.

"Previously, all it did was devour heart force, but just now, I was able to attune to it. Its heart force is now mine to use," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

"What a peculiar aura. There's something strange about the cursed spiritual power it emits. How did you obtain this golden tree?" Madam Rouge exclaimed.

"I acquired it from the world away during my True Immortal tribulation."

"A tribulation—the world away?" Madam Rouge exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He recounted how his consciousness had been flung beyond the skies and into the starry void. There, he saw a golden screen behind which countless cursed effigies were imprisoned.

"What a bizarre tribulation. I've never heard of such a thing. How could something like this happen? And just what was that golden screen?" Madam Rouge asked, puzzled.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I don't know myself."

Madam Rouge's expression grew serious. She reached out in an attempt to touch the golden tree.

Brilliant light radiated from the tree as it attempted to repel Madam Rouge's hand. Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward and reached out, suppressing the tree's defensive response and allowing her to inspect it.

After some time, Madam Rouge withdrew her hand. Her expression shifted between shades of surprise and concern.

"What's the matter? Did you manage to glean anything?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

Madam Rouge frowned. "I can sense the heavens' aura on it."

"The heavens' aura?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback.

Madam Rouge nodded. "I don't know how your consciousness reached the world away, but I have a suspicion that it reached the heart of that world—perhaps even the lair of the heavens themselves. That golden screen, behind which countless cursed effigies were imprisoned, might well be a heavenly prison."

"A heavenly prison used for confining cursed effigies?"

"Indeed. And this golden tree seems to be a very peculiar world tree in its own right. It must have some connection with the heavens. Somehow, it fell into your hands and merged with you. This might explain why you can absorb the heavens' unique cursed spiritual power."

"A world tree?" Xiao Nanfeng glanced at the golden tree in surprise.

"You had a world tree even before starting to cultivate your heart? As expected of the man I've chosen." Madam Rouge suddenly looked at Xiao Nanfeng with fervor.

"In that case, why were you reluctant to acknowledge me all this time?" Xiao Nanfeng teased.

"Who said I was unwilling to acknowledge you? I'll do so right now." Madam Rouge rolled up her sleeves and pounced on him.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up. He playfully retreated.

"Hmph! In our dream, you deceived me with your false innocence and tricked me into a grand wedding. It's only been a few years since, but you've already found so many other women! Today, I'll teach you a lesson." Madam Rouge leapt onto Xiao Nanfeng's body.

"Ah, don't bite me!"

Caught off guard, Xiao Nanfeng stumbled and fell to the ground.

Madam Rouge was clearly in high spirits, and Xiao Nanfeng was naturally amenable to this state of affairs.

He waved his hand, enveloping their surroundings with fog. A massive bed appeared out of thin air, providing a space for their playful tussle. Soon, their clothes were scattered around the bed, and the melodies of their intimate union echoed through the world of Xiao Nanfeng's heart.

In a dimly lit hall, after several days of recuperation, Yu Banruo had finally recovered sufficiently to return to business.

A group of his subordinates was already waiting within the hall, their expressions filled with anxiety.

"What's the matter?" Yu Banruo asked.

"Your Highness, the Immortal Emperors of Dasa and Daliang have been captured by Xiao Nanfeng. All nine Immortal Emperors have fallen into his hands," one subordinate reported. He then provided a summary of Xiao Nanfeng's recent actions.

Yu Banruo's face turned dark. "It looks like I've truly underestimated him."

"We are at fault, Your Highness. We failed to uncover the extent of Xiao Nanfeng's reserves beforehand. The Divine Emperor, Liu Miaoyin, and Madam Rouge are all supporting him. With their power, he has become one of the most formidable forces in the world," another subordinate said.

"The Divine Emperor? Liu Miaoyin? Madam Rouge? Are those three women all insane? Why are they helping Xiao Nanfeng?" Yu Banruo demanded.

Any one of the three women would be difficult to contend with, let alone all three together. This alliance posed a fatal threat to his ambition to unify the world.

"Your Highness, we've already suffered significant losses against Xiao Nanfeng. If this continues, we might be in serious danger," another subordinate cautioned.

Yu Banruo's gaze turned icy. "Danger? Are you afraid of those three women? What's there to fear?"

"But—"

"No buts. I'll capture Xiao Nanfeng myself and use him to force the three women to surrender. Then, their four divine empires will all be mine!" Yu Banruo said coldly.

"You plan on capturing Xiao Nanfeng, Your Highness? He's sly and tricky. We can't find his whereabouts at all."

"We'll go directly to Yongding. He can't leave it undefended," Yu Banruo replied confidently.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

A few days later, in the imperial palace at Danan's capital, Xiao Nanfeng lounged amid a bed of peach blossoms, with Madam Rouge in his arms. He sang her a moving ballad as he gazed at him lovingly.

"Husband, your singing is so beautiful. I want to hear more," Madam Rouge said, her eyes full of affection.

"Alright, but if I keep singing, my voice will be ruined. Why do you love listening to songs so much?" Xiao Nanfeng said with a laugh.

"I just love hearing you sing. And you're only allowed to sing for me, not for the others," Madam Rouge pouted.

Xiao Nanfeng froze for a moment before he nodded. "Alright, only for you."

Inwardly, he sighed with relief. Thankfully, the Divine Emperor and Liu Miaoyin didn't know about his singing, or things would have gotten awkward.

"That's my good husband," Madam Rouge said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Don't you have a charm of heavenly law to refine? You should focus on that," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Are you leaving again?" Madam Rouge asked, frowning.

"No, but I suspect Yu Banruo has recovered and will come for revenge. I need to prepare for him."

"That scoundrel?" Madam Rouge glowered.

"I'm a sixth-stage Boundless Immortal now thanks to you. I can deal with him on my own," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Madam Rouge shook her head. "No. Let me go with you. He's a wily old fox, and I still have a score to settle with him."

"Don't you need to focus on your charm of heavenly law?"

"I've already integrated it into my body. I'll have my own world tree soon enough," Madam Rouge replied confidently.

"You should focus on it for now. If I receive news about Yu Banruo, I'll let you know immediately," Xiao Nanfeng promised.

"Alright." Madam Rouge nodded.

Two days later, outside Yongding, Yu Banruo and his subordinates made a stealthy arrival.

They cloaked themselves in fog as they stood atop a mountain peak, gazing at the distant city.

"Your Highness, we can't keep track of Xiao Nanfeng's whereabouts. However, one of his bodies is stationed in Yongding," one subordinate reported.

Yu Banruo stared at Xuanhuang Hall in the distance. "One body suffices."

"But Yongding is heavily fortified, Your Highness. How will you capture Xiao Nanfeng? If we take too much time, the Divine Emperor, Liu Miaoyin, and Madam Rouge may arrive," another subordinate said anxiously.

"They won't make it in time," Yu Banruo replied coldly.

With a wave of his hand, a massive mirror appeared high above Yongding, covering the sky and casting a golden beam of light downward. The sudden attack startled the guards in the capital.

"An enemy raid!"

"Activate the formations!"

"Be careful!"

Amidst the commotion, the city's defensive formations were swiftly activated, filling the capital with radiant light. But the golden beam from the massive mirror was far too quick. It engulfed the entire city and its defenses in an instant.

The guards in the city remained tense and braced themselves, but there was no sign of the destruction they had anticipated. The golden light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving no visible damage.

"Nothing happened—was that mirror just for show?" someone asked incredulously.

"No, Yongding's gone! My avatar was outside the city. There's just a giant pit where the city used to be!" someone suddenly shouted.

"What do you mean, gone? We're all right here!"

"It's true! I can confirm it too. We've been trapped inside the mirror!" someone else shouted.

"What?!" Gasps of shock spread throughout the crowd.

Only then did the cultivators notice that Yongding's sea of fortune, which should have been high overhead, had gone missing. They glanced around them, only to see distant fog beyond the city. Faint bestial roars echoed from the fog.

"Let's go investigate," one general ordered.

"Yessir!" the city guards chorused.

Just then, Ye Sanshui's shout boomed from Xuanhuang Hall. "By His Majesty's orders, no one is to leave the city! Set up defensive formations immediately!"

Ye Sanshui's voice echoed throughout the capital.

Everyone turned to the palace to see Xiao Nanfeng emerge from Xuanhuang Hall, followed quickly by his officials. They were glancing at a mirror high in the sky.

"Yu Banruo, I am your target. How dare you use such despicable means against innocent civilians? How low can you sink?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

The mirror vibrated. Yu Banruo's image appeared within, confirming his involvement.

"Innocent civilians? The moment they swore allegiance to Dazheng, their lives ceased to matter to me," Yu Banruo sneered.

With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Mirror demons, attack!"

From the thick fog outside the city came deafening roars. Countless monstrous creatures charged at the city's defensive barriers.