Wayfarer

Chapter 474: Three-Headed Serpent

Across the wide expanse of the sea flew Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost.

"Princess, I heard that the Imperial Court was constructed within the heavens. Is that true?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Indeed. We shall enter via the Eastern Gate."

"Why does Yin Tianci seem to fear Martial Aspects to such a great extent? Allegedly, even the divine empire of Dayin must obey the orders of the Imperial Court. Is that true, too?"

"Are you unfamiliar with what your new position entails?" Zhang Lingjun frowned.

She gave him an odd look. She had spent much of her effort these past months vouching for him and attesting to his qualifications—but did Xiao Nanfeng not know what all this was for?

"I'm aware of the basics, but don't have sufficient understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of being a Martial Aspect. Please advise me, Princess."

"Let's put it this way: the whole world is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court. All empires, and divine empires in the world must provide tribute to the Imperial Court. The Martial Aspects are the generals that the Imperial Court deploys against those who dare defy it. The crown prince of Dayin is naturally wary of your status as Martial Aspect, but even the Immortal Emperor of Dayin himself wouldn't dare to kill a Martial Aspect in broad daylight."

"All empires must pay tribute to the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"That's right. The Imperial Court governs not the people of the world, but the empires that arise from them. All empires must provide fortune to the Imperial Court. Right, your new empire of Dayin is subject to that as well. Tithes are waived for the first five years because new empires barely have any fortune to speak of, but you'll have to pay up thereafter. The Imperial Court will send a delegation to harvest fortune from your empire."

"So these Martial Aspects are tax collectors for the Imperial Court?" Xiao Nanfeng gave her a strange look.

"That's a horrible way of putting it. All empires must pay tribute; those who don't will suffer the wrath of the Imperial Court."

"If the Imperial Court is this strong, and you're a princess of the Imperial Court, how did you end up..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.

Zhang Lingjun had almost been molested by a cultivator merely at Yin Body. If not for his timely assistance, she might have suffered an abominable fate.

"Be silent!" Zhang Lingjun's face flushed.

She didn't want to bring up matters of the past. In addition to what she had almost suffered, Xiao Nanfeng had all but seen her nude body in its entirety.

She sucked in a deep breath. "Don't meddle in my affairs. You won't be able to do anything about them, regardless."

"Very well." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Zhang Lingjun was a beauty, but he was no besotted fool to harass her to no end.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, flying at the forefront, sneered disdainfully at Xiao Nanfeng.

Just then, a huge wave from the sea below them surged up. Three gigantic heads appeared, their mouths opening wide, intent on swallowing up the cultivators on the cloud.

"Who dares?!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted, slamming a palm at the unwelcome attacker.

The seawater burst apart as a black, three-headed monster, hundreds of meters tall, appeared in sight. Its three heads were all serpentine in nature, and they shared a single tail. The monster radiated killing intent. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost's counterattack had struck down one of the heads and left it bleeding and contorted, but the monster remained ferocious. It lashed its tail at the Martial Aspect.

"A three-headed serpent? Die!" the Martial Aspect shouted. He punched at it.

A huge wave formed over the ocean as the three-headed serpent was flung kilometers away.

The seawater burst forth again as a dozen more three-headed serpents emerged from underwater. They were particularly large in size and boasted impressive auras.

"A Heaven Immortal three-headed serpent? Your lot dares lay an ambush for me? Where's your king?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost demanded.

"Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, how dare you encroach on my new territory?" a deep voice demanded.

In another surge of seawater, a gigantic purple three-headed serpent emerged, the king of the three-headed serpents. A frightening aura emanated from it and caused the waves all around to swell.

Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. The three-headed serpent king boasted such strength that even he was having trouble withstanding its aura. It was likely an existence beyond that of a Heaven Immortal.

"So you are here, after all!" The Martial Aspect narrowed his eyes.

"That's right, it's me. Rivals inevitably cross paths, don't they? Last time around, you and your troops slaughtered countless descendants of mine. It's well past time I repaid that debt," the three-headed serpent king called out.

"You only managed to survive because you fled quickly. This time, you're done for!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost retorted.

He infused a gust of chilling air into the sea. The waves froze and turned to ice, starting below his feet and expanding outward across the sea.

The three-headed serpents began to roar. Fog formed around them, shrouding the surface of the sea.

Afar, Xiao Nanfeng sensed something amiss. Many of the three-headed serpents seemed to be staring at him, but when he looked back, they averted his gaze.

"There's something wrong. We should hurry and leave," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Leave? Surely not. Martial Aspect Xiao, there'll be plenty of spirit-slaughtering tasks and assignments ahead of you. Fighting against these three-headed serpents is as ordinary as could be. If you're afraid of such confrontations, how will you ever serve as a Martial Aspect?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost scoffed.

"Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, don't you think it out of the ordinary that these three-headed serpents would suddenly appear out of nowhere? It's very likely that our whereabouts have been exposed. There may be an ambush, and we should take precautions."

"Take precautions against these losers? And what should I be worried about? Xiao Nanfeng, you're too cowardly. I've already checked my surroundings with my frosty aura. No one stronger than I am is present. You don't have to worry," the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost mocked.

The fact that he could become a Martial Aspect meant that he was no mere meathead. He had noticed that the serpents were eyeing Xiao Nanfeng as well, and had easily guessed that they were targeting him.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. If the Martial Aspect wasn't just being obstinate, then that meant that he was trying to take advantage of the opportunity to kill him. But why? He had no quarrel with him that he knew of.

Zhang Lingjun seemed to notice that something was amiss as well. She immediately said, "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, you were tasked with my protection. Now that something unusual has happened, I insist that you leave with us immediately."

"Worry not, Princess. Everything is under my control. These serpents aren't a concern, and I've defeated them before. They're criminals in the eyes of the Imperial Court, and as a Martial Aspect under its employ, I'm responsible for taking them down. Please give me a moment."

Before Zhang Lingjun could countermand him, he had rushed off toward the serpents.

"Attack!" the three-headed serpent king roared.

The gathered spirits roared and charged toward the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost in a confrontation that spawned tsunamis in the sea. Ice and seawater flew into the air as Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and her retinue stepped back in worry.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost was surrounded by a group of three-headed serpents. The fighting was intense; seawater and shards of ice were sent flying through the sky and surrounding the center of the battlefield.

"A fight among Heaven Immortals—no, among True Immortals—is one we won't be able to interfere in. Xiao Nanfeng, stay by my side. Nothing should go wrong," Zhang Lingjun said.

She could see that the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost might take this opportunity to attempt to kill Xiao Nanfeng, but she was confident that he would protect her to the best of his abilities. As long as Xiao Nanfeng stayed by her side, the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost wouldn't be able to strike.

"Understood!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded without hesitation.

The fighting afar grew more and more intense. The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost seemed not to be able to handle all the serpents for the time being.

Just then, right before where Xiao Nanfeng, Zhang Lingjun, and her retinue were located, a huge swell burst into the air. The cultivators on the cloud were scattered as a humongous figure appeared in the sea, another Heaven Immortal three-headed serpent. It roared and bit down on Xiao Nanfeng.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost smirked, thinking that this plan was about to be a success. Xiao Nanfeng didn't have any time to dodge; he was about to be swallowed whole.

Just then, a red sword slash descended from the skies, slicing at the head of the serpent that was about to bite down on Xiao Nanfeng. A huge scar was left behind on the dragon's head.

Zhang Lingjun had helped Xiao Nanfeng out at the last moment.

"Don't look at me. I promised Father to bring you to the Imperial Court to assume your duties, and I can't break a promise to him. Let's go!" Zhang Lingjun shouted.

That blow left the three-headed serpent berserk. Without caring about anything else, it roared and attacked Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng alike.

"There's no need. This beast isn't a problem. Seal!" Xiao Nanfeng intoned.

The Divine Seal of Dazheng landed on one of the serpent's heads.

With a bang, the serpent turned stiff. It seemed to be unable to fly into the air. The Divine Seal of Dazheng formed a barrier of golden light that encased the serpent, so it couldn't even flee from below, either.

"What?" The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost narrowed his eyes from afar, an unkind look on his face.

"Your imperial seal can quell even a Heaven Immortal?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed.

The serpent's other two heads roared and smashed into the seal, but only managed to give themselves bleeding wounds. The seal was unaffected; it even began to radiate with golden light.

"Kill!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

A slash of his blade cut off one of the serpent's heads.

"Die, lad!" the other two heads roared.

"You die! I had no quarrel with you. You were the one who attacked me first!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

"Die!" The serpent spat out a huge fireball, but Xiao Nanfeng feared no flames. He charged forward and slashed down, cutting off a second head.

"No!" the serpent roared.

Xiao Nanfeng slashed off a third head in quick succession, killing the serpent instantly in a shower of blood.