Immortal of the Nine Realms

”I’m fine now; the Demonic Calamity has passed,” Fang Chen said with a smile.

Xia Ji was momentarily stunned. However, he was soon overwhelmed with joy.

”You just mentioned Heavenly King Zhen Manor. What happened there?” asked Fang Chen curiously.

Xia Ji laughed heartily. ”I gathered a few friends and pooled together some mid-grade spirit stones, hoping to try my luck at the Jade Universe Hall to see if there were any Vast Origin Fruits available for purchase. To my surprise, they actually had some, and the price was reasonable. Just as I was about to buy one, the people from Heavenly King Zhen got there first and paid a high price to buy it, using it right on the spot!”

At this point, he couldn’t help but chuckle. ”I didn’t expect you to pass through the Demon Calamity on your own, saving me some money.”

Fang Chen nodded lightly.

Xia Ji asked curiously, ”Now that your Demonic Calamity has passed, can you start condensing your Nascent Soul?”

Fang Chen smiled. ”I still need to stabilize my current realm for a while.”

He kept the matter of the Profound Mother Yin Beast to himself; if others knew he needed the beast’s blood to condense his Nascent Soul, many would likely target him.

”That’s no problem then. With your qualifications, I reckon it won’t take long for you to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm,” said Xia Ji.

At that moment, a guard rushed over and reported with a cupped fist, ”Young Master, someone from Heavenly King Zhen Manor has come. They want to see Sword Leader Fang.”

Xia Ji waved his hand. ”Heavenly King Zhen Manor? What do they want? Tell them I’m not seeing anyone.”

The guard smiled bitterly. ”That person said it’s related to Sword Leader Fang’s Demonic Calamity. Perhaps they could be of assistance to Sword Leader Fang if he met up with them.”

Xia Ji furrowed his brows. ”Is Heavenly King Zhen Manor really so kind-hearted? What can they help with when their own young master needs to consume a Vast Origin Fruit?”

”I’ll go meet with them,” said Fang Chen.

”That’s fine, but be cautious. After all, you killed quite a few of their celestial soldiers back then,” reminded Xia Ji.

Fang Chen nodded and followed the guard to the reception room. There, he saw an old man in a green robe standing with his hands clasped behind his back. When the old man noticed Fang Chen, he merely glanced at him with the corner of his eye.

It wasn’t until Fang Chen approached that he smiled slightly and nodded gently, saying, ”I am Bao Yuanqing.”

He’s a Dao Union Realm cultivator? thought Fang Chen.

Fang Chen smiled. ”You are a guest elder of Heavenly King Zhen Manor, Senior Bao?”

”You have quite the discerning eye, Sword Leader Fang,” Bao Yuanqing praised with a smirk

His gaze lingered on Fang Chen’s gray-white eyes for a few moments.

”What brings you here?” Fang Chen asked, seemingly unaware of the mockery in Bao Yuanqing’s words.

Bao Yuanqing replied, ”I’m here to present you with a blessing.”

However, as Bao Yuanqing spoke, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. Wasn’t Fang Chen supposed to be undergoing a Demonic Calamity? Why is his aura so whole and peaceful? He doesn’t seem to be facing any calamity at all.

”A blessing?” Fang Chen smile deepened. ”What kind of blessing would that be?”

”I happen to have a Vast Origin Fruit here that I can gift to you. Of course, with your talents, a measly Demonic Calamity is nothing to you. However, the Vast Origin Fruit is precious and could be kept for use during the second calamity,” Bao Yuanqing said with a smile. ”All I need in return is for you to reveal the whereabouts of the Demoness Yu.”

”Did Gai Wu send you?” asked Fang Chen calmly.

Looking at the unperturbed Fang Chen, a glimmer of joy flashed in Bao Yuanqing’s eyes.

Things are looking promising.

He pondered for a moment and said, ”Although the Young Master holds a transcendent status, he cannot command me. I was sent by the lady. The lady is distressed that Gai Wu suffered severe injuries, leaving him in an imperfect state. She fears it may affect his future cultivation. I wonder if you can understand her concern?”

”Gai Wu’s mother, huh?” Fang Chen nodded slightly. ”Since Gai Wu state is imperfect, what does finding Little Yu have to do with you? Do you think that finding her will return Gai Wu to how he was?”

”At the very least… it can calm the lady’s anger. You should know that the lady is currently in the capital, Sword Leader Fang, having tea and discussing Dao with the current Grand Princess,” remarked Bao Yuanqing with a smile.

Detecting the threat in Bao Yuanqing’s words, Fang Chen said, ”Even if your lady was having tea and discussing Dao with the emperor himself, what does that have to do with me? Surely, you don’t think that bringing up someone I have never met, like the Grand Princess, will scare me? Have you forgotten my background?”

Bao Yuanqing’s expression changed instantly, and the gentleness in his tone vanished. His tone became rather stiff as he said, ”I know you come from an extraordinary background and hold a somewhat transcendent status. You must be proud of your talents. However, as a Dao Union Realm cultivator, I am here personally as a mediator.

”This shows how much the lady values you. She respects your status and hopes that you can also show respect to her. Take the Vast Origin Fruit; just provide us with the whereabouts of the Demoness Yu, and after that, the matter will no longer concern you, Sword Leader Fang.

”Even if there were some misunderstandings between Demoness Yu and Sword Leader Fang back then, our lady can overlook them.”

”Your lady… is at most a concubine of the Heavenly King Zhen Manor, right? The legitimate wife should be the mother of Gai Hong,” Fang Chen said in surprise. ”Since even the Heavenly King’s Manor no longer concerns itself with this matter, why does your lady still want to trouble Little Yu? Does she truly not regard the Void Immortal Sword Sect?”

Bao Yuanqing’s expression darkened. ”Sword Leader Fang, please speak with more courtesy. What do you mean by ’concubine’? The lady is the lady, and she is also the prince’s Dao partner. If your words were to spread, they would be enough to bring you to justice.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Justice? I definitely need to be punished. When will I be punished? I need to prepare myself mentally.”

Bao Yuanqing had already realized that Fang Chen would not reveal the whereabouts of the Demoness Yu. After a brief silence, he suddenly chuckled. ”The old sword immortal in your sect must be gravely injured, right? The Void Immortal Sword Sect only has this one Immortal King… I wonder what will happen to your sect after the old sword immortal passes away.”

Fang Chen grinned, raising his brows. ”Oh, so your lady suddenly became interested in Little Yu again because she feels that the Void Immortal Sword Sect is not what it used to be?”

”I hope you think about what I told you. If you are willing, you may come to the Grand Princess’s residence before sunset. Both the lady and I will be there.”

Bao Yuanqing gave Fang Chen a deep look, lightly waved his sleeve, and strode away.

As soon as he stepped out of the Xia Manor, Bao Yuanqing’s expression grew even darker; he had already noticed that Fang Chen had successfully overcome the calamity.

”He passed the calamity in only 1 or 2 days. What talent. No wonder he can become the Void Immortal Sword Sect’s sword leader. If given a few hundred years, what would he achieve?”

With this thought in mind, Bao Yuanqing quickened his pace and soon arrived at the Grand Princess’s residence, which was located on the same street as the royal palace.

After traversing a series of intricate corridors, he finally reached the back garden of the residence, where bursts of cheerful laughter could be heard.

Dozens of noblewomen had gathered here.

Bao Yuanqing approached a noblewoman who was seated toward the back. His lips moved slightly as he spoke.

Upon hearing his words, the noblewoman’s expression suddenly froze.

A regal-looking woman in the center seemed to sense something and turned to the noblewoman with a smile and asked, ”Sister Yu, what’s wrong?”

This regal-looking woman held an unusual status; as soon as she spoke, the eyes of the surrounding noblewomen turned toward Bao Yuanqing and the noblewoman.

Not far away, in the shadows, a pair of eyes quietly observed the unfolding scene.