Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Lord, something doesn’t seem right,” remarked Fairy Yu, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

She noticed that the cultivators in the vicinity were receding like a tide, as if they were making way.

The people who had made way didn’t stray far. Some stood by the roadside, while others entered the tea houses and taverns that lined the street, leaning on the railings to observe.

The purple-robed young man, who had been following the group, now appeared with his entourage in a grand thirty-three-story cloud pavilion adorned with exquisite carvings. Many Nascent Soul and Golden Core Realm cultivators greeted him with smiles as they chatted. From their conversation, it was clear that these people were all directly under the command of the Heavenly King Zhen.

Zhao Kaihe, the young man in purple robes, smiled. He clasped his fist and asked, ”Where are the crown prince and the Second Miss?”

A Nascent Soul Realm colleague pointed to a taller cloud pavilion nearby and chuckled. ”They’re all over there, along with the previous generation of elite disciples from various sects. Elder Chen is close and is overseeing them. We don’t have the qualifications to approach, so we can only watch the spectacle from here.”

Zhao Kaihe was caught by surprise. ”Elder Chen is also here?”

Puzzled, he continued, ”I heard that Elder Chen is about to undergo tribulation. Isn’t it risky to be outside at such a time? If he encounters tribulation here, the entire Immortal Dynasty Holy Land will be affected.”

”Don’t worry about that. He knows his situation better than any of us. It’s not yet time for his tribulation,” replied a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator with a faint smile.

Pausing for a moment, the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator continued mysteriously, ”Zhao Kaihe, do you know how many factions are present today?”

Zhao Kaihe’s eyes lit up. ”How many?”

The Nascent Soul Realm cultivator put up both of his hands. ”This many.”

Zhao Kaihe was surprised to learn that over twenty sects or families were paying attention to this matter. Back when Heavenly King Zhen Manor issued a wanted notice for Demoness Yu, these factions showed little interest and didn’t intervene at all.

”At that only includes the major sects and the families at the Immortal Manor level. There are many others whose numbers I’m not aware of,” said the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. ”Anyway, today’s events are neither big nor small; they are among the top ten in the past century in the Central Continent Empire.”

Zhao Kaihe smiled slightly, looking pleased as he glanced at Fang Chen’s group. ”It’s quite lively indeed.

With Tribulation Realm cultivators presiding, they could be considered as the protectors of the Immortal Manor. Above them were the Immortal Courts, whom Ascension Realm cultivators presided over. Ascension Realm cultivators were akin to Immortal Kings, and over the millennia, they had earned the title of Immortal King alongside Loose Immortals.

Loose Immortals were known as First Rate Sect Leaders.

Ascension Realm cultivators were known as Immortal Kings.

Tribulation Realm experts were known as Profound Immortals.

There were only about a hundred Profound Immortals in the Central Continent Empire, with half of them not having appeared in the world for thousands of years, their status unknown. Immortal Kings were even rarer.

As for First Rate Sect Leaders, they could be counted on one hand.

Countless eyes were quietly sizing up Fang Chen’s group. Some of these gazes belonged to the people from Immortal Courts, while others came from the Immortal Manors. Among them, two elders surpassed the rest in cultivation. They stood shoulder to shoulder on a high platform and were casually chatting.

“Daoist Chen, the oldest lord in your faction is on the verge of reaching the Dao Union Realm. If I remember correctly, he’s only around 106 years old, right? Hehe, to be able to reach the Dao Union Realm before 200, he might have a chance to inherit Heavenly King Zhen’s inheritance in the future.”

“The lord has not passed the third calamity, so we can’t say he’s about to reach the Dao Union Realm. And after the Dao Union Realm, there are still nine tribulations. Each tribulation is like having one foot on the road to the Yellow Springs. It’s not easy to inherit the Heavenly King Zhen’s inheritance.”

“That’s true... Oh, Daoist Chen, you should be preparing for your Tribulation soon, right? If you pass all nine tribulations, the Central Continent Empire will have another Profound Immortal. Let me congratulate you in advance.”

“That’s a long long way off. Let’s put this matter to the side for now. By the way, do you know about this boy’s origins when he stayed at the Desolate Academy?”

“Even though the Desolate Academy knows many secrets, I have no idea about his origins either. The sword aura treasure on him is impenetrable even for you and me, so his background can’t be simple. I suspect he may be a new disciple of some Profound Immortal.”

“Profound Immortal....”

The two elders fell silent, and at that moment, many figures had already appeared around Fang Chen.

Fang Chen slowly said, “Qinghu’s Ruler, please go on your own way from here.”

“Lord Fang, we’ll meet at the Greenwood Sect,” replied the Qinghu Empire’s ruler, nodding softly.

She then left with Tu Qingqiu and the young princess.

She understood that troubles had found their way to Fang Chen and his companion. This was a conflict out of their league. They couldn’t be of any help.

After a few moments, a figure approached from the street, stopping about a hundred feet away from Fang Chen and the others.

That person was dressed in coarse clothes and wore sandals. Their hair was disheveled and cascaded over their shoulders.

A few people in the vicinity recognized this person, and their faces quickly became filled with surprise.

”That’s Meng Tianshu, an Immortal Seedling from the Seven Profounds Sect.”

The crowd’s expressions brightened.

The Seven Profounds Sect was not famous in the Central Continent by any means. They weren’t even considered an Immortal Manor and only had one Dao Union Realm cultivator.

However, five years ago, a dark horse emerged from the Seven Profounds Sect. A grand completion stage Golden Core Realm cultivator who had swiftly completed the Ancient Immortal Road, earning the title of Immortal Candidate.

It was rumored that the Ancient Immortal Road had even rewarded him with an Immortal Technique!

”Greetings, Fellow Cultivator. I am Meng Tianshu, from the Seven Profounds Sect,” Meng Tianshu called out to Fang Chen respectfully.

Fang Chen remained composed. He replied calmly, ”I am Xia Xuanji, a wandering cultivator. Pleased to meet you.”

Fairy Yu glanced at Fang Chen with a strange expression.

Another figure emerged from a nearby alley and addressed Fang Chen as well. ”I am Yang Qing from the Nine Deer Valley. Pleased to meet you, Fellow Daoist.”

”I am Fang Ze from the Jade Toad Palace. Pleased to meet you, Daoist.”

”Ding Wan from the White Moon Island. Pleased to meet you, Daoist”

”Du Kong from the Prajna Sect. Pleased to meet you, Fellow Cultivator.”

”The Water Moon Sect’s....”

One figure after another emerged, all of them at the grand completion stage of the Golden Core Realm. Moreover, they were all newly-titled Immortal Seedlings.

If ordinary Golden Candidates in the Central Continent Empire were common, then these Immortal Seedlings, without exception, were all new stars in the cultivation world. Their names had been circulating throughout the Central Continent Empire ever since they had become Immortal Seedlings. Their names had even resounded in second-tier empires.

The cultivators of the Immortal Dynasty Holy Land were considered fortunate, as they suddenly witnessed dozens of Immortal Seedlings emerging. In normal times, they might never have had the chance to meet any of them in their entire lives!

”One, two, three, four... thirty-three.... Regardless of what this battle’s outcome would be, that person is bound to become famous. Thirty-three Immortal Candidates have all appeared at the same time. Has any Golden Core Realm cultivator ever enjoyed such a scene?” murmured Zhao Kaihe.

His face portrayed how emotional he was. In fact, in his heart, he couldn’t help but feel a bit envious of Fang Chen.

The surrounding Nascent Soul Realm cultivators were also deeply moved. Everyone had climbed up step by step from the Golden Core Realm, but even at their most glorious moments, they couldn’t compare to even one-thousandth of the glory that person was experiencing today.

”What’s there to envy about him? Although we might not have been as strong as him when we were at the Golden Core Realm, we have reached the Nascent Soul Realm, becoming experts. As for him... I’m afraid he will forever remain at the Golden Core Realm,” a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator commented indifferently.

The others nodded lightly. Even though innate talent and aptitude determined what a cultivator would accomplish on their path of cultivation, what mattered in the end was who walked the furthest. This principle has remained unchanged since ancient times.