Chapter 174: Bandit Suppression
On the Isle of Xiao, Ye Dafu cried out excitedly, "Young Master, look! I'm already at the third stage of Ascension, and my third uncle broke through to the fifth stage! These draconic veins are amazing."
"Young Master, we've all reached the peak of Immanence. If there's another draconic vein around, we might be able to break through to Ascension!" Ye Dafu's lackeys added.
"And what about you, Mr. Zheng?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.
"I'm rather lacking, but my cultivation has improved tremendously as well. I'm at mid-Immanence now, and the three thousand fighters have largely reached late Acquisition. The effect of a draconic vein is truly beyond compare," Zheng Qian replied, smiling.
"This is just the start. Don't worry, Mr. Zheng. You'll be able to reach Ascension in no time at all!"
Zheng Qian smiled and nodded in anticipation.
"Young Master, do you intend on extracting another draconic vein? The one in the Isle of Xiao, perhaps?" Ye Dafu's eyes brightened.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ye Sanshui rapped Ye Dafu on the head. Was his nephew an idiot? Who would want to extract their own draconic vein when there were so many out there?
"I heard that Nalan Feng left Taiqing Island," Xiao Nanfeng said.
Ye Sanshui nodded. "He left yesterday."
"Good. I won't have to worry about him scheming against me, then. I don't have time to waste on him." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in satisfaction.
Ye Sanshui, on the other hand, gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. Don't you think your positions are reversed? You're the one who's been scheming against him!
Ye Sanshui voiced his concerns. "Young Master, I'm worried that he won't take what we've done lying down."
"What's there to be worried about, Third Uncle? We'll reach Spiritsong sooner or later by following Young Master Xiao. If he dares to target my father, I'll have my father seek Young Master Xiao's aegis! After all, Father always claimed to be loyal to Marquis Wu. We don't need to bear with Nalan Feng!" Ye Dafu said disdainfully.
Ye Sanshui: ...
"Ye Dafu's guess is on the mark. I do intend to extract another draconic vein," Xiao Nanfeng began.
"What?" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.
"Really?" Ye Dafu and the other cultivators suddenly grew excited.
Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That's right. I've already discussed it with Elder Zhao. A few days later, we'll set off. I'd like you to return to Taiqing Island and help me advertise. Tell them that I'll be raiding a bandits' den. The island where we're headed should have a draconic vein, which I intend to extract. All those who are willing to accompany me and listen to my orders can share in the vein, but all other rewards from the raid shall be mine. If you're interested, register now—we'll be setting off within a few days."
"Of course!" Ye Dafu and the other disciples cried out excitedly.
In a hall of the Ascended division on Taiqing Island, Zhao Tianheng had a sip of tea as he listened to a disciple's report.
"Xiao Nanfeng is recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses for a bandit raid—and there are almost three thousand disciples registered to join him?" Zhao Tianheng asked.
There were only a few thousand formal disciples of the Taiqing sect, and a significant fraction remained out in the mortal world on sect business. Had Xiao Nanfeng won the support and admiration of the majority of the formal disciples in just a few short months?
"Yes, Master! The number would be even larger had he not restricted the expedition to those beyond Acquisition," the disciple continued.
Zhao Tianheng frowned. "He's really a troublemaker, isn't he?"
"Over the last few months, although he's only been teaching fist techniques to Ascension-realm disciples, those same disciples heap immense praise on Xiao Nanfeng when they teach Immanence-realm disciples themselves. As a result, Xiao Nanfeng enjoys a sterling reputation among the ordinary disciples. Furthermore, about a hundred Ascension-realm disciples were able to absorb draconic aether and gained huge advances to their cultivation. The other disciples covet the opportunity to enjoy some draconic aether of their own."
"So the Immortal's Destruction can unearth draconic veins? It's an incredible treasure, that's true, but is Xiao Nanfeng strong enough to defend it? Ha!" Zhao Tianheng narrowed his eyes, then continued, "Do you know where they're headed?"
"I'm not sure, but I have a guess, Master."
"Oh?"
"During this period of time, the second- and third-in-charge of the Bloodkill bandits brought their crews in a raid on the Isle of Xiao, attempting to assassinate Xiao Nanfeng, only to end up being hanged to death. I suspect that Xiao Nanfeng will be leading the Taiqing disciples to eliminate the Bloodkill bandits once and for all."
Zhao Tianheng nodded. That was in line with his suspicions.
Days later, on a large island in the Eastern Sea, a large number of malicious-looking men sat in a hall as they faced their leader.
"Boss, something's wrong," one of them began.
"What's the matter?"
"I noticed someone flying by an island to our south, an outcropping of rock without anything of interest whatsoever. What would a Spiritsong-realm cultivator be doing there? Could our enemies be spying on us from afar?"
The boss of the Bloodkill bandits considered the information. "It's already the third wave."
"The third wave of what?"
"What the boss means is that there are already three groups of people focused on us, the Bloodkill bandits," one of the other men stated.
"More groups? Who could they be?!"
"Do you remember the Isle of Xiao?" the boss of the Bloodkill bandits asked.
"The Isle of Xiao?" The bandits reacted with surprising fear.
"The second- and third-in-charge both perished there! Boss, do you think Xiao Nanfeng's still not satisfied? Is he going to come attack us next?!" someone cried out.
The boss of the Bloodkill bandits nodded. "I just received word that Xiao Nanfeng's leading a large group of Taiqing disciples our way here to eliminate us. They'll arrive within a few days."
"What? He's really going to fight us head-on?" The bandits were shocked and angry.
"Boss, you said that there were three groups of people going after us. Are the other two Xiao Nanfeng's helpers?" one bandit asked.
The boss shook his head. "They're waiting for Xiao Nanfeng to deal with us first."
"To attack him once he's done with us?"
The boss nodded. "They're likely eyeing his Immortal's Destruction."
The bandits perked up.
"I told the second- and third-in-charge not to try to seek revenge on Hong Xiaoye's son, but they insisted on going. Not only did they perish, they've even dragged the rest of us into this mess. What a bunch of idiots," the boss of the Bloodkill bandits cursed.
"Considering the situation, why don't we lie low for the moment?" one bandit suggested.
"Lie low? How? I'm the only one who can leave. Haven't you seen that they've been wrecking all those ships leaving our island? We're bait, and they're not going to let us go easily," the boss hissed.
"Then—" The bandits began to panic.
"The father's a catastrophe and the son is too. Damn it. On what grounds?!" The boss of the Bloodkill bandits slapped his armrest in vexation.
Five ships from the Taiqing Sect sailed across the Eastern Sea. From high above, Croak and Warble scouted in their vicinity, guarding against any who sought to tail the fleet. Aboard one ship, Xiao Nanfeng looked out at the wide expanse of the sea, his hands gripping the railing tightly.
Ye Dafu rushed over. "Young Master, are we headed in the wrong direction?"
"Who said so?" Xiao Nanfeng turned his head and laughed breezily.
"Some senior disciples are saying that the Bloodkill bandits aren't in this direction!" Ye Dafu fretted.
"And who said we were heading for the Bloodkill bandits?"
"Ah..."
"Young Master, aren't we headed to eliminate the Bloodkill bandits?" Ye Sanshui asked in surprise.
"Who said that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked again.
"Didn't you say it?" Ye Dafu seemed wholly confused.
"I said that we were going to eliminate a group of bandits, but not necessarily the Bloodkill bandits," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.
"Ah?" Ye Dafu cried out.
"We're headed to Thousand-Serpent Island," Xiao Nanfeng explained.
"Where's that?" Ye Dafu asked.
"Remember when we encountered a group of serpents attacking Zhao Yuanjiao while returning to the Taiqing sect?"
"Of course! You easily slaughtered them all and even killed a giant golden Spiritsong-realm serpent!" Ye Dafu recalled.
"That's right. These serpent bandits have attacked an elder of the Taiqing sect, and there's no reason to leave them be. Our goal is to exterminate these serpents."
"Exterminating... serpent bandits?" Ye Dafu's eyes grew wide.
"The sea serpent spirits you brought back last time were very important. Zhao Yuanjiao sent them to the Mortal elders and had an antidote prepared. With this antidote, none of us will have to fear their venom. Later, I'll have you distribute the antidote to everyone."
"Of course!" Ye Dafu nodded.
"Here they are." Xiao Nanfeng handed over a bundle of pills. "Ye Sanshui, you're reliable and trustworthy. Please help Ye Dafu out. Distribute the antidote as quickly as possible. We'll have about half a day at most before we land on the island."
"Yes, Young Master!" Ye Sanshui replied.
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