Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Master, Senior Sister, I’ll hang around with Fang Chen for a while. You two return to the Profound Void Temple without me. I’ll return later.”

After bidding farewell to Master Chanyuan and Wu Ruochou, Xia Ji followed Fang Chen and the others to the Fang Family manor.

On the way, Fang Lingxing occasionally made sarcastic remarks toward Xia Ji, but Xia Ji countered each one. Fang Moseng was visibly very angry, but Fang Kun and the others remained indifferent.

The elders only took it as children bickering. Not to mention that Xia Ji had Master Chanyuan and Fang Chen behind him, so they didn’t dawdle on what he did.

Fang Lingxing snorted inwardly, then exchanged a few words with Fang Moseng before bidding farewell to the two ancestors. Leaving, she muttered, ”After Elder Brother Jue defeats Fang Chen, let’s see how the two of you fare....”

”Is that girl going to find Jue Wudi again?” Fang Wanli furrowed his brow. ”I think you should advise her to avoid associating with the members of the Jue Family.”

Before Fang Moseng could speak, Fang Tingjian said indifferently, ”The younger generation has their own thoughts. Why should we old folks meddle in their affairs?”

Fang Wanli fell silent.

”Fang Chen, what are you thinking? If you have anything on your mind, just say it. We can analyze it together,” Xia Ji transmitted via telepathy, unable to help himself when he noticed how quiet Fang Chen was along the way. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

”Nothing much, just curious how Jue Wudi poisoned Dongfang Haojie,” Fang Chen replied.

”We have low cultivation levels. They must have countless ways to poison him without our notice. It’s not weird that you weren’t able to see it. Now that Dongfang Haojie is following a Nascent Soul Realm expert from the Purple Pole Dao Academy, he shouldn’t be in much danger,” Xia Ji replied via telepathy.

Fang Chen remained silent.

Xia Ji was unaware that Fang Chen’s divine soul was exceptional and that it wasn’t the same as ordinary people’s. Unless a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator had taken action, it was difficult to hide under Fang Chen’s eye.

Furthermore, Fang Chen believed that even if those Nascent Soul Realm experts took action, he would definitely be able to detect some clues. They shouldn’t be able to erase every trace.

”Speaking of which, that fat guy is quite impressive, isn’t he? His constitution can resist all poisons? Even the Spirit Blood Sect couldn’t poison him to death. From his appearance earlier, I didn’t expect him to have such ability,” said Xia Ji.

Fang Chen was slightly surprised and asked, ”Have you seen Dongfang Haojie before? Was it in the Immortal Origin District?”

”I haven’t had time to go to the Immortal Origin District recently. I saw him at the Profound Void Temple. This morning, he and the Golden Core Realm expert beside him came to the Profound Void Temple to look at the scriptures,” Xia Ji replied with a hint of sarcasm. ”Many Golden Core Realm experts have come to the Profound Void Temple during this period. They all want to extend their lives by studying those scriptures.”

”Observing scriptures, huh...” Fang Chen pondered.

There was another possibility. Dongfang Haojie was poisoned beforehand, not during the banquet. The poison only took effect during the banquet. If that’s the case, it would be difficult to determine who poisoned him. Nie Tianyuan was highly suspected since he had been by Dongfang Haojie’s side the whole time.

After they returned to the secluded courtyard, Xia Ji and Fang Chen entered a quiet room.

”Fang Chen, what’s the next step? If the Spirit Blood Sect’s plan has failed, they might have other schemes,” Xia Ji said with a serious expression.

”Unless something unexpected happens, the hidden Kunlong Battle General may take the opportunity to attack Dongfang Haojie,” Fang Chen pondered.

”Hidden Kunlong Battle General?” Xia Ji was slightly surprised, his expression odd. ”Has he already arrived in Grand Qian?”

”He may have been in Grand Qian all along,” Fang Chen replied.

Xia Ji slapped his thigh, his face suddenly enlightened. ”Why didn’t I think of that? He’s quite cunning. To completely disrupt the Hidden Cloud Region, how could the Spirit Blood Sect’s Nascent Soul Realm experts not personally oversee it? It wouldn’t make sense for them to come after the fact.”

”You should stay here at the Fang manor these days instead of returning to the Profound Void Temple,” said Fang Chen. He then joked, ”Your senior sister can skip a few rounds of your homemade soups.”

”That’s true, but I still prefer the Profound Void Temple. The scenery is better there, and I have my senior sister to keep me company.” Xia Ji smiled, then lightly patted Fang Chen’s shoulder. ”Because of my low cultivation level, I am of little help when it comes to this matter. If... this turns out to be beyond us, let’s run away together. There won’t be a shortage of other chances to make a rise in the future.”

With those words, Xia Ji got up and left, not giving Fang Chen a chance to respond, as if he had come specifically to say that.

”Fate can overcome the heavens,” Fang Chen murmured, a glint flashing in his grayish-white eyes.

Indeed, his cultivation was far inferior to the Spirit Blood Sect’s Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm experts. Their foundations were worlds apart. In front of the Spirit Blood Sect, he was nothing but a mere ant. But now, with the advantage of information and him lurking in the shadows, coupled with some good help, he might have a chance.

Using his divine soul, Fang Chen arrived at a grand hall in the imperial palace. Dongfang Haojie was standing respectfully before Immortal Void Rush.

“Nie Tianyuan is not here, and the two disciples brought by Immortal Void Rush are also absent.”

A majestic and vigorous spiritual power formed a barrier around them. This was Immortal Void Rush’s technique, and it made it difficult for even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators to sneak up on them.

”Senior Void Rush, that’s the situation. The Spirit Blood Sect plans to use me as bait to turn the Hidden Cloud Region into their furnace for refining Blood Spirit Pills,” Dongfang Haojie explained.

He fell silent, waiting for Immortal Void Rush’s response.

Immortal Void Rush remained silent for a few moments before speaking. ”Do you know the identity of the cultivator who told you about this?”

”No, I don’t. Is it possible that it was Immortal White Tiger or Supreme Expert Dragon Wood?” Dongfang Haojie frowned. ”He knew that I am a member of the Dragon Blood Family and he knew of the Spirit Blood Sect’s plot. His strength is definitely above the Nascent Soul Realm.”

”Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. But his actions don’t match either of their styles.” Immortal Void Rush shook her head softly. ”They wouldn’t easily antagonize the Spirit Blood Sect; they value their lives too much.”

Dongfang Haojie’s expression was odd. ”Senior Void Rush, do you believe his words? From my perspective, this matter might also be a ploy by certain individuals to provoke a war between Grand Qian and Grand Wei for their own benefit.”

A faint cold sneer appeared at the corner of Immortal Void Rush’s mouth, and a glint of cold mockery flashed in her eyes. ”Do you really think that there’s no one in this world searching for traces of the Spirit Blood Sect? If not, why would they act so covertly? In first-tier empires, there are influential figures attempting to completely uproot the Spirit Blood Sect.

”That’s why they don’t easily expose their whereabouts. These influential figures once said, ’Since the Spirit Blood Sect wants to hide in the shadows, then we shall learn from them and hide in the shadows too. Let’s see who shows their hand first,’” Immortal Void Rush explained.

Fang Chen’s eyes flashed with surprise. ”This....”

Dongfang Haojie looked incredulous. ”Senior Void Rush, are you suggesting...?”

”Since the day I ascended to Nascent Soul Realm, I’ve been doing one thing. I have been finding the remnants of the Spirit Blood Sect and sending them into the cycle of reincarnation,” Immortal Void Rush’s gaze was indifferent. ”These people don’t deserve to live in this world.”

Pausing for a moment, Immortal Void Rush looked at Dongfang Haojie. ”We’ve long known that the Spirit Blood Sect has always planned to use the Hidden Cloud Region as a furnace to refine Blood Spirit Pills. There are many of our cultivators in the Imperial Capital too. You’ll stay by my side. If the Spirit Blood Sect turns desperate, they’ll reveal their hand. At that time, I will wipe out all their bases in the Hidden Cloud Region!”

Dongfang Haojie was speechless.

Fang Chen was stunned for a moment, then a slightly relieved smile appeared on his face. Turns out that there were influential figures working to combat the Spirit Blood Sect as well. He suddenly felt the heavy stone pressing on his chest loosen a bit.