Immortal of the Nine Realms

A young man frowned slightly when he saw Chai Shun bring Fang Chen over, his eyes wary as he scrutinized Fang Chen. ”Chai Shun, I asked you to inquire about directions, not bring back more people.”

In the cultivation world, unidentified newcomers were always seen as potential threats.

The young man had a much higher cultivation than the rest. He was at the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. The others with him were not far off from Chai Shun’s level, ranging from the fourth to eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm.

Chai Shun ignored the young man’s questioning and respectfully bowed to an elderly man. ”Ancestor, this is Daoist Dongfang who knows the exact location of Black Mountain Valley. Could he travel with us? This way, we can avoid getting lost and make it on time.”

The Chai Family ancestor’s gaze swept over Fang Chen indifferently. At this moment, Fang Chen had suppressed his cultivation aura using his spiritual sense to appear below the Foundation Building Realm, roughly at the eighth or ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. This ordinary Foundation Building Realm Chai Family ancestor couldn’t discern anything.

Seeing that Fang Chen was just a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, the Chai Family ancestor nodded lightly and casually asked, ”Daoist Dongfang, do you have any relation to the Dongfang Clan of Heavenly Maple Valley?”

Fang Chen shook his head gently. ”My humble family only has a few individuals. We are not from a prestigious cultivation lineage.”

”Then which sect or faction are you from?” the Chai Family ancestor inquired.

”I am just a rogue cultivator,” Fang Chen replied. ”I was passing through here and considering seeking an apprenticeship at the Three Thousand Dao Sect to further my studies.”

As he said this, Fang Chen observed the expressions of the group and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that the Three Thousand Dao Sect was not well-known among ordinary cultivators.

”Three Thousand Dao Sect?” Chai Shun pondered for a moment then chuckled softly. ”There are too many sects in this world. I’ve never heard of the Three Thousand Dao Sect. It must be a renowned and righteous sect.”

Pausing briefly, Chai Shun noticed that Fang Chen’s eyes remained closed, and he casually remarked, ”My friend, are you visually impaired?”

Fang Chen nodded lightly and opened his eyes, revealing his gray-white pupils to everyone. a

Fang Chen closed his eyes shortly after showing them.

”So, he’s blind... and just a rogue cultivator,” muttered some of the Chai Family disciples, their expressions tinged with curiosity and a hint of disdain.

However, the Chai Family ancestor smiled lightly and nodded approvingly. ”If you don’t mind, young friend, travel with us.”

In the following journey, whenever the group veered off course, Fang Chen would speak up and guide them accurately, which made Chai Shun’s action of bringing Fang Chen seem justified to the Chai Family disciples. However, thet couldn’t help but find it strange how a visually impaired cultivator could be so familiar with the route and navigate it so precisely.

Several hours later, a patch of dark brown land came into view, starkly contrasting with the surrounding green mountains and clear waters. This desolate land seemed devoid of any vegetation, marked only by numerous irregular deep pits.

At this moment, in the center of this barren and desolate land, stood a building shrouded in thick spiritual energy, towering over the surroundings like a lone crane amidst a flock of chickens.

The structure stretched for dozens of miles, appearing immense from afar, its full scope difficult to discern up close.

Near the entrance of the building, numerous cultivators were gathered. Fang Chen could sense that there weren’t only Foundation Building Realm cultivators, but also Golden Core Realm and even Nascent Soul cultivators!

”This is Black Mountain Valley! That must be the legendary Immortal Tomb!” exclaimed the disciples of the Chai Family with excitement.

The Chai Family’s patriarch immediately quickened his pace, leading everyone toward the location of the Immortal Tomb.

During this time, no one noticed that Fang Chen had quietly activated the Primordial Immortal Eye, secretly assessing everything before him.

There are four Nascent Soul Realm experts and several Golden Core Realm cultivators. It seems unlikely for cultivators in the Middle Three Realms to be here. Perhaps there are none at all, thought Fang Chen.

His observation also indicated that even if the Spirit Blood Sect were involved, the threat level would be similar to that of the previous incident in the Hidden Cloud Region. Behind them might stand several generals of the Spirit Blood Sect, but dealing with ordinary Spirit Blood Sect disciples would not be too difficult for him now.

Soon, the group arrived near the Immortal Tomb, but the front positions were already occupied. When the Chai Family and others tried to squeeze in, they were met with several rebukes.

”What are you squeezing for? Where did these bumpkins come from? Now that four Nascent Soul Realm experts are overseeing this matter, those who arrived late should obediently stay behind and follow the rules,” scolded someone.

Chai Shun and others gasped in awe.

”Four Nascent Soul Realm experts?!

In the region where the Chai Family resided, seeing one or two Golden Core Realms would already be remarkable. As for Nascent Soul Realm experts, they were practically unheard of, existing only in legends.

After the initial shock came excitement…. Just the presence of Nascent Soul Realm experts in Black Mountain Valley underscored the tremendous significance of this Immortal Tomb!

The ancestor of the Chai Family noticed that the person who scolded them had a strong aura, not weaker than his own, also at the early Foundation Building Realm. He chose not to argue and instead tried to look ahead to assess the situation.

Suddenly, someone’s surprised voice appeared not too far away. ”Daoist Chai?” ℯℯ𝘭.

The Chai Family’s ancestor looked over and saw a middle-aged cultivator accompanied by a group of young people, all staring at him with astonishment.

The Chai Family’s ancestor finally remembered who the person was, his face breaking into a joyful smile. ”You are... Daoist Chi?! Ah, it’s been at least seventy years since we last met!”

It was a reunion of old acquaintances in a distant place.

Daoist Chi approached with his disciples in tow, warmly catching up with the Chai Family’s ancestor, ”Yes, seventy years have passed in the blink of an eye. It feels like yesterday when we traveled together in the rivers and lakes.”

Meanwhile, Fang Chen’s divine soul stood in the void, observing the four Nascent Soul Realm experts.

The cultivation of these four Nascent Soul Realm experts... how should I put it…?

They were not as strong as Immortal Void Rush and the others. Though they were all at the early stage, they seemed to have just barely made it to the Nascent Soul Ream. Their auras were somewhat chaotic, and they all looked like they had one foot in their graves.

There were three old men and one old woman.

About half of the Golden Core Realm cultivators present were brought by them, and they were standing right behind their seniors.

The four Nascent Soul Realm cultivators had been scrutinizing the Immortal Tomb, their eyes revealing unmistakable greed and anticipation.

”The Immortal Tomb has been active for nine days, and the prohibition’s aura is weakening day by day. I think in another three to five days, we can try to break the prohibition and take a look inside,” one of the Nascent Soul Realm experts slowly spoke, smiling at the other three.

The other two old men agreed wholeheartedly, but the old woman gently shook her head.

”Delay brings changes. The sooner we open the prohibition, the better. We should avoid stronger experts arriving unexpectedly,” she cautioned.

”That’s true... but the prohibition’s aura isn’t ripe yet. Even if we force it open together, if something goes wrong, it could affect our lifespans,” one of the old men replied.

”Yes, our lifespans are limited. We shouldn’t squander them easily. Let’s try to use as little effort as possible,” another added.

”Heh, even at this point, you’re still concerned about this and that. I think the three of you might as well just turn back and live well. You could probably live another hundred or eighty years,” the old woman remarked with a hint of cold sarcasm, causing the three Nascent Soul Realm experts to look somewhat uncomfortable.

Fang Chen observed the four individuals, wondering if any of them were Spirit Blood Sect cultivators. However, he couldn’t discern any clues just by looking at them.

If that’s the case, let them expose themselves, Fang Chen thought, planning to wait and see.

Any Spirit Blood Sect member would inevitably leave clues as they navigated their scheme. As long he kept a sharp mind, he’d be able to pick up on them.

Fang Chen’s gaze shifted toward the gate of the Immortal Tomb. What he saw wasn’t just simple spiritual power but a profound and mysterious array!