Chapter 197: Changing Avatars

Chapter 197: Changing Avatars

Xiao Nanfeng's main body stepped outside the Vault of Scriptures on Taiqing Island, with another ten jade tablets in hand. He had already finished the scriptures that Zhao Yuanjiao had loaned him, and his concentrated and dedicated effort over this period of time had resulted in an explosive growth in his repertoire.

"Senior Brother Xiao!"

"Senior Brother Xiao!"

As he walked out of the Vault of Scriptures, all the disciples he encountered greeted him. He replied with a smile and a nod.

"Senior Brother Xiao, the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace has opened. Did you hear about it?" one disciple stepped forward and asked.

"You know about it too?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised.

This was the sixth conversation of this sort he had had today.

"That's right. We're not the only ones who know, either. Word has spread throughout the sects of the Eastern Sea, and strong cultivators have been heading in in search of treasure," the disciple said expectantly.

"Senior Brother Xiao, are you going to spearhead an expedition? We're all happy to join you."

"That's right! If you lead an expedition, Senior Brother Xiao, we'll all join you. We can't just watch the other sects' disciples take everything of value, can we?"

"Senior Brother Xiao, are you going to head there?"

Everyone watched Xiao Nanfeng expectantly.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Has everyone learned of this?" Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

"Yes!" The disciples all nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Something seemed amiss. Two months ago, when Zhao Yuanjiao told him the news, he had stated that only a few elders in the sect were aware of this secret information. Now, however, it seemed that everyone was aware of it.

Had the news spread far and wide in just two months? Something seemed amiss. Even those who learned of the news should have kept it to themselves so they could get a head start. How could everyone have learned about it?

Xiao Nanfeng felt certain that there had to be some conspiracy at play.

Looking toward the expectant Taiqing disciples, Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. "I don't intend to head to the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace at the moment."

"Ah?" The Taiqing disciples' faces fell in disappointment.

"I know that many of you are tempted, but the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace boasts both great opportunity and great danger. I advise you not to go, at least not for the time being. Of course, the decision is ultimately up to you."

The Taiqing disciples turned serious.

"As you say, Senior Brother Xiao!"

"I'll listen to you, Senior Brother Xiao."

Many of the disciples nodded, but others frowned unwillingly, or even in disdain.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't make any further remarks. He had already warned them against heading to the draconic palace; if they insisted, he wouldn't stop them.

He continued his rigid schedule studying the near-endless scriptures of the Vault of Scriptures. As a result of his accumulated knowledge, he had reached mid-stage Lunar Deluge, both with his main body and with his avatar as well.

He was pulled up toward the earth above him. As his body smashed into the earth, it was as though he had been struck by a giant boulder. His flesh pulped and his bones broke.

He was dragged all the way up out of the floor, whereupon he spat out a mouthful of blood and lay paralyzed on the ground, heavily injured.

The earth caved in, burying the other man in the tunnel alive.

"No!" the cultivator who had been buried alive furiously dug at the earth, attempting to escape from the mouth of the tunnel.

"It's too late!" Xiao Nanfeng called out.

Another ethereal rope passed through the ground, grabbed the cultivator, and sent him hurtling up into the hall. By the time he emerged, he too spat out a mouthful of blood and lay paralyzed.

"Two Immanence-realm cultivators..." Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"King Xiao? Has there been an assassination attempt?" Worried voices came from outside the hall.

"Come in!" Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

A few spectral guards rushed into the hall to see two large holes through the floor, along with two bloodied bodies. They were shocked, but it was more or less clear what had happened.

"Please pardon us, King Xiao!" the guards cried out.

They were responsible for keeping guard over the governor's manor, but had failed in their duties and allowed assassins to get close to Xiao Nanfeng.

Just then, You Jiu rushed over, having heard the commotion. He was shocked to see what had happened.

"Sir Xiao, something's wrong. We have treasures that can detect seismic activity and underground motion around the governor's manor, and we would have known if they were digging a tunnel underground. However, we didn't sense anything at all."

"You Jiu, investigate what happened. Interrogate these two cultivators and figure it out."

"I understand, Sir Xiao!"

When You Jiu and the others left with the assassins, Xiao Nanfeng turned back to the ethereal red rope in his palms.

"This red rope can pass through physical matter, but not living matter with souls. What an interesting technique," Xiao Nanfeng commented, very pleased with his discovery.

Five days later, You Jiu reported back to Xiao Nanfeng.

"Have you figured out what was going on, then?"

"Those two 'assassins' used to be grave robbers who came here to steal our wealth. They had a secret technique for digging holes underground, which was able to avoid our detection," You Jiu reported wryly.

"Just thieves?" Xiao Nanfeng remarked in surprise.

"That's right. I didn't think the matter would be so simple, so I interrogated them a few more times, but this was the conclusion. Here's the transcript of their testimony," You Jiu said, handing over a sheaf of notes.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. Not assassins, but common thieves?

"Sir Xiao, the governor's manor isn't protected by a formation, and similar matters might keep happening. Although we've secured the treasures of King Yan, King Qi, and the various family heads, none of them are of particularly high quality. However, I remember that King Yan's capital-defending formation is rather well-made. Shall I use the red rope to command him to give it to us?" You Jiu asked.

"Very well. Be careful along the way." Xiao Nanfeng handed You Jiu another length of red rope.

"Don't worry, Sir Xiao. I'm the only Spiritsong-realm cultivator left in the undying realm. Who would be able to threaten me?"

Only then did Xiao Nanfeng nod.