Immortal of the Nine Realms

The Grand Qian Imperial Palace stood majestic and imposing, painted golden, with red tiles at the top. It exuded a solemn and dignified atmosphere throughout.

Following the crowd, Fang Chen arrived at a spacious hall with open sides. Seats were already arranged here, awaiting the guests’ arrival.

Not only were there seats for the Golden Core Realm cultivators, but there were also special tables prepared for the Foundation Building Realm cultivators and even Qi Refining Realm cultivators brought by the Golden Core Realm cultivators.

After seating himself, Fang Chen’s divine soul spread out, and what came into view were thousands of tables. Countless palace maids and eunuchs bustled around, while outside the hall, elite guards of Grand Qian patrolled back and forth.

Fang Chen’s gaze swept around. ”Tong Hu, Tong Bozhou, Fang Shang, Jue Wudi. They are all here today.”

Then he looked at Nie Tianyuan, and Dongfang Haojie before his eyes finally landed on the Golden Core Realm cultivators like Immortal Tianwu.

Nearly a hundred Golden Core Realm cultivators had arrived, with the majority coming from the Azure Cloud, Grand Wei, Chaoxiang, and Tianji.

These Golden Core Realm cultivators had different auras, but they were mostly stuck at the bottleneck of the early stage of the Golden Core Realm. They were on par with Fang Wanli, Jue Fei’an, and Princess Shenlong.

Only a very few were in the mid-stage Golden Core Realm. As for the late-stage, they were even fewer and could be counted on one hand.

Suddenly, Fang Chen’s gaze was drawn to a slender figure. ”Is this... a grand completion stage Golden Core Realm cultivator?”

The Golden Core Realm cultivator seated beside that person had been conversing with him all along, his words carrying a hint of politeness, even flattery.

”Master Chen, my talismans have run out recently. When would you have the time to help me refine some more?”

”Master Chen, my grandson is very interested in the Dao of Talismans. Would you be willing to allow him to cultivate under your sect?”

”Master Chen….”

Fang Chen understood what was going on. ”So, he’s the talisman master.”

His gaze shifted elsewhere, to an area where the descendants of the Grand Qian royal family were seated.

Leading them was Princess Shenlong, accompanied by Qian Feng and Qian Jiuye. However, Qian Feng was surrounded by many princes and princesses, while Qian Jiuye appeared somewhat lonely, with only a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties by his side.

From their occasional conversations, it could be inferred that the middle-aged man was the crown prince.

The second prince, Qian Feng, is seeking the position of crown prince, that’s why he’s forming cliques. The current crown prince only has Qian Jiuye by his side. His situation doesn’t seem too favorable, Fang Chen thought with a faint smile.

Struggles such as these were fairly common within royal families. Back then, Xia Yu was similar. He had feared that the third prince, Xia Ji, would seize the throne from him, so he plotted against Xia Ji.

As Xia Ji’s best friend, Fang Chen naturally became Xia Yu’s target.

A few breaths later, Fang Chen turned his attention to the cultivators from Chaoxiang.

Chaoxiang only sent one Golden Core Realm cultivator, a female cultivator. However, behind her sat someone Fang Chen had seen before.

Chaoxiang Palace? So she’s from the fifth-tier Chaoxiang Empire. Judging by her surname, she should be a member of the royal family. In that case, the powerful Wuchang Mountain is either a major sect within the Chaoxiang Empire or possibly from the Hidden Immortal Empire, thought Fang Chen.

That was why, despite her young age, Mi Sheng from Chaoxiang Palace possessed the ability to refine her own Destiny Weapon.

”Master Chanyuan has arrived.”

Everyone suddenly looked toward the entrance of the hall.

Master Chanyuan, accompanied by Xia Ji and Wu Ruochou, approached slowly. Upon entering the hall, they bowed to the crowd and recited a Buddhist chant before silently taking their seats.

Many Golden Core Realm cultivators had complex expressions upon seeing Chanyuan.

Many people had heard about Master Chanyuan, inside and outside Grand Qian. His name was well known in even fifth-tier empires such as Grand Wei, Chaoxiang, and Tianji—the man who had lived for four hundred years despite being only a mere Foundation Building Realm.

They had traveled from afar to see that Buddhist scripture that had allowed him to live as long as he did, but ultimately when they peered at it, they found nothing. It could only be said that Chanyuan’s Buddhist cultivation far exceeded their imagination.

Jue Wudi’s eyes had been focused on Fang Chen, but the moment Xia Ji stepped into the hall, Jue Wudi turned his attention to him.

Sensing his gaze, Xia Ji directly rolled his eyes at Jue Wudi. If not for the special occasion today, he would’ve probably given him the middle finger.

Xia Ji lowered his voice and pointed toward Fang Chen’s direction. ”Master, may I sit over there?”

Master Chanyuan nodded softly and said, ”Don’t cause trouble. Today’s occasion is special with the presence of the Nascent Soul Realm experts.”

”Master, rest assured.” Xia Ji nodded and moved his table over to sit beside Fang Chen, even pushing Fang Jue slightly aside.

Fang Jue grew curious when he saw him.”Fellow Cultivator Xia, your cultivation seems to have advanced rapidly?”

With a slight frown, Fang Lingxing, who was sitting nearby, cast a cold glance at Xia Ji, though a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

Why had Xia Ji’s cultivation improved so much in such a short time?

Xia Ji chuckled. ”Perhaps it’s due to my daily contemplation of Buddhist teachings, which has led to me gaining some insights.”

Xia Ji began to chat with Fang Jue while Fang Chen remained silent.

Fang Chen’s gaze swept across the crowd of Golden Core Realm cultivators. Through the list provided by Abbess Qing He in the past few days, he had already noticed seven or eight Golden Core Realm cultivators who could potentially be members of the Spirit Blood Sect.

”Is he that one with his eyes closed? Fang Chen of the Fang Family?”

”It should be him. I heard he’s blind, a crippled man.”

”Have you heard the rumors these days? It seems like he’s a descendant of Fang Tingyuan.”

”Fang Tingyuan... Wasn’t he the number one genius who overshadowed the talents of the Azure Cloud Empire hundreds of years ago? Even the geniuses from the Azure Cloud Empire and Youxian countries paled in comparison to him.”

”Indeed. Born in a fifth-tier empire, yet forcibly taken in by a certain major sect of a first-tier empire. Such talent, who can compare to him?”

”It’s just a pity, his background and heritage were insufficient. He offended someone in a first-tier empire, that’s why he was wasted overnight.”

Many young cultivators were secretly communicating through voice transmission, their eyes frequently glancing at Fang Chen. They were not from Grand Qian, but they knew about the formidable figure from hundreds of years ago.

”Thank you for waiting, everyone.”

Suddenly, an old man walked slowly forward, followed by a Foundation Building Realm cultivator.

The old man was none other than Qian Wuji, the Ancestor of Grand Qian, who had appeared in the Jade River Pavilion before. He was at the peak of the Golden Core Realm. And the cultivator behind him, without surprise, was the emperor of the Grand Qian, playing a role similar to Fang Kun in the Fang Family.

After exchanging greetings with the Golden Core Realm cultivators, they cautiously inquired, ”Fellow Cultivator Qian, I wonder if the three seniors are in the palace right now?”

”I have received messages from the three seniors. They are on their way. Considering the time, they should be arriving soon,” Qian Wuji replied with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, a rainbow light descended into the hall. When the light dissipated, a dignified-looking monk, dressed in a crimson-golden robe, appeared before everyone.

The monk smiled slightly at everyone. ”Namo Amitabha, I hope I am not too late.”

It was Supreme Expert Dragon Wood from the Chenxiang Temple!

The crowd’s eyes lit up, and they all stood up to bow and pay their respects. Even Fang Tingjian and others did not hesitate to show their courtesy.

In the Azure Cloud Empire, there were three major sects, and the Chenxiang Temple was one of them!