Immortal of the Nine Realms

Inside the main hall of the Ye Family.

A middle-aged man looked puzzled. ”Father, why do we need to curry favor with this sword cultivator? He killed the Foundation Building Realm elder from the Sea Dragon Sect. When the Sea Dragon sect comes knocking, then we’ll be....”

The Ye Family Head looked at his son, then at the other Ye Family members, whose expressions were similarly uncertain. Sighing helplessly, he began, ”He killed a late-stage Foundation Building elder with one move. Do you think he’d be afraid of someone just because they’re at the Golden Core Realm?”

Just because they are in the Golden Core Realm...

Those words sounded arrogant to the ears of those present—to talk about a Golden Core cultivator in that manner was unthinkable. However, upon careful consideration, they found that the family head’s words weren’t that unreasonable. The sword cultivator’s identity was probably extraordinary. If the Golden Core Realm cultivator from the Sea Dragon Sect learned that their Foundation Building Realm elder had been slain with a single sword, they might not dare seek revenge easily.

”The sword cultivator wants to buy a large number of spiritual minerals and materials, whether they are ores or refined spiritual materials. You go to the Xu Family and the Zhou Family and tell them to help us contact the suppliers to find the goods as soon as possible,” said the Ye Family Head.

”Yes,” said the middle-aged man. He hurriedly got up and left to do as told.

The next day, the Ye Family leader eagerly found Fang Chen. ”Senior, I’ve already contacted everyone I know. We’ve found a total of thirteen types of spiritual materials, including Moon Sinking Gold, Scarlet Flame Metal, and Diamond Jade... Everything will wrap up neatly to about 9000 low-grade spirit stones in the end,” he said, then paused. The Family Head seemed to want to say something else, but was hesitant to say it, his face full of embarrassment. “But...”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Just say it.”

”We’re afraid we won’t be able to come up with so many spirit stones to pay the suppliers,” said the Ye Family Head with a wry smile.

“This won’t be an issue. I’ll give you 4000 low-grade spirit stones now. When the materials arrive, I’ll pay you the remaining amount,” said Fang Chen as he took out 4000 low-grade spirit stones from his storage ring and handed them to the Ye Family leader. ”When will the goods arrive?”

The Ye Family Head quickly reassured him. ”The ores will arrive in Spirit Void City within two days!”

”One day.”

The Ye Family Head was surprised. ”One day?”

”Yes, I’m only giving you one day to make this happen.”

Gritting his teeth, the Ye Family Head nodded. ”Please rest assured, senior. I will lead this personally, and the heads of the Xu Family and the Zhou Family will accompany me day and night to ensure the materials are delivered within a day.”

Fang Chen nodded with a smile. ”Thank you.”

After the Ye Family leader left, Fang Chen took off his mask. Behind it was a wrinkled face unbefitting of his age. Distress flashed in Fang Chen’s eyes. He no longer had the air of a youth in his prime. At best, he was a very handsome, somewhat refined middle-aged man.

”I was very careful yet I still ended up like this.” Fang Chen sighed softly. “I won’t be able to restore it through cultivation alone; I’ll need special spiritual fruits and elixirs.”

The lifespan of a sword cultivator was inherently short, a third of a normal cultivator’s on average, and because he forced himself to use the first form of the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture twice in a row, he probably burned off thirty to fifty years of his lifespan. However, Fang Chen didn’t regret anything.

If it weren’t for him having the ability “One Sword to Break a Myriad of Techniques,” he wouldn’t have been able to kill the Foundation Building Realm expert from the Sea Dragon Sect. Being sought out by such a powerful individual, if he couldn’t kill him, there was only one fate awaiting him. Not to mention that it would’ve been even more impossible to deter the Sea Dragon Sect behind them.

It was then that Fang Chen heard a voice outside his courtyard, calling for him. ”Sen-Senior....”

Putting his mask back on, Fang Chen walked out, only to see Ye Wenxiu waiting with Abbess Qing He at the door.

”Senior, this abbess claims to know you. She has been wandering around our Ye Family’s entrance for a long time. After I saw her, I wondered if she might be a disciple of yours, so I brought her here...” explained Ye Wenxiu cautiously, his courage bolstered. He had heard from the Citylord’s Mansion that there had been a nun accompanying Fang Chen, who seemed to be from the Concealed Moon Hermitage. That was why he dared to look for Fang Chen in the first place.

Fang Chen nodded. ”Thanks for the trouble.” He then gestured for Qing He to come inside.

Abbess Qing He didn’t want to expose Fang Chen’s identity, so she remained quiet.

Seeing that Fang Chen and the abbess were really acquainted, Ye Wenxiu thanked Fang Chen and entered the courtyard with her. Ye Wenxiu felt a bit disappointed when he saw that Fang Chen didn’t say much. Seeing that the two were about to enter their rooms, he mustered up his courage and asked, ”Senior, may I ask if I can study the sword under you....?”

Pausing for a moment, Fang Chen stared at Ye Wenxiue. ”Who are you?”

”I am Ye Wenxiu, the young head of the Ye Family,” he said. “I have seen your abilities and really admire you. I have almost had my beloved taken away from me by the Passing Dragon Island Master, so my desire for strength has become many times stronger than before. Otherwise, with my temperament, I would never be so bold as to ask you this, senior.”

Fang Chen shook his head slightly. ”Treading the Sword Dao is difficult. ”

After saying that, Fang Chen entered the house with Abbess Qing He.

Seeing that he had been rejected, Ye Wenxiu was downcast and disappointed.

Outside the courtyard, several youngsters of the Ye Family were peeping at what was happening. When they saw Fang Chen leave for his house, they approached Ye Wenxiu.

”Wenxiu, it’s better if you keep your expectations grounded. The inheritance of the sword is not easily obtained. Try not to come here in the future to avoid offending this senior.”

The Ye Family youngsters tried to advise him.

Ye Wenxiu muttered through gritted teeth, ”How would I know if I don’t try?”

He turned around and walked away.

One of the Ye Family youths shook his head slightly. ”We haven’t had a sword cultivator rise from the Flame Empire in many years. Wenxiu is bound to be disappointed.”

”Exactly. With that senior’s abilities, even if he were to take on a disciple, he would go to fifth-tier, or even fourth-tier empires to look for one. I’ve heard that those places are rich in spiritual energy, and their cultivators have exceptional talents, far surpassing ours,” remarked another Ye Family youth.

***

Inside the room.

Abbess Qing He saw that Fang Chen hadn’t taken his mask off, but she didn’t think much of it. ”Lord Fang, I think I saw the Grand Xia Emperor back at the Spirit Void Sect yesterday....”

Fang Chen was surprised. ”You noticed him too?”

He smiled and nodded. ”You have keen eyes. Yeah, Xia Xuanji was there. I didn’t expect him to be a Foundation Building Realm cultivator. He must’ve seen you as well. Stay here in the Ye Family’s manor for the next few days and don’t let him see you again, or he’ll immediately guess my identity.”

“Lord Fang, the Grand Xia Emperor is probably related to the Spirit Blood Sect. I saw many evil spirits lurking around him,” said Qing He.

Fang Chen’s eyes narrowed. ”How many?”

Abbess Qing He hesitated for a moment before whispering, ”There were too many to count, but there must’ve been hundreds of them.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Indeed, he is definitely a Spirit Blood Sect cultivator. Those evil spirits might be people he had killed personally, as he must’ve caused many more deaths indirectly. They can’t number just in the hundreds.”

Fang Chen fell silent for a moment before he asked, ”Do you have any Communication Talismans?”

“Communication Talismans? Abbess Qing He nodded. ”Yes, my master gave me two of them before I left.”

”Help me send a message to your master, ask her to do me a favor,” said Fang Chen.

Fang Chen came a little closer to Abbess Qing He and whispered something in her ear.

Abbess Qing He nodded quickly and then took out one of the talismans, igniting it.

Inside the Concealed Moon Hermitage, Abbess Zhu Yue held a report in her hand. The report was burning.

A look of contemplation flashed in her eyes.

”The Grand Xia Emperor and the Spirit Blood Sect...”