Immortal of the Nine Realms

At the ancestral palace of the Three Thousand Dao Sect, under the leadership of Fang Chen, hundreds of disciples stood reverently before the statues of the three sacred beasts.

Among them, Qi Gongxu was especially emotional. The three sacred beasts were the totems of the sect. Finally, after many generations, he returned to stand before them, fulfilling the aspirations of his ancestors and officially becoming part of the Three Thousand Dao Sect.

His sons and other younger family members shared in his excitement. Though they didn’t have deep attachments to the sect, they fully understood what joining it meant: an unparalleled leap in their standing and future prospects.

After all, they had seen with their very own eyes a First Rate Sect Leader, Immortal Kings, Prefects, sect patriarchs, and clan leaders at the ceremony. These were all figures they wouldn’t even dare dream about encountering. Yet, they had seen them all on the same day thanks to the figure not far away who had restored the Three Thousand Dao Sect.

Once the incense offering was complete, Fang Chen turned around and glanced at the crowd before addressing Pei Qingfeng, ”Martial Nephew Pei, I propose that Li Daoye take on the position of sect master. What do you think?”

Li Daoye to become the sect master?!

Elder Xu and Guan’e were visibly taken aback, and Pei Qingfeng was no exception. The gathered disciples exchanged bewildered looks.

”Martial Uncle, shouldn’t this position... be yours?” Pei Qingfeng asked cautiously, choosing his words with care.

Fang Chen smiled faintly. ”A sect master has a lot of responsibilities, and I simply don’t have the time. This is the perfect opportunity for Li Daoye to gain some experience. Besides, his tenure won’t be long. Once he advances to Golden Core Realm, the position will naturally be passed to someone else.”

Pie Qingfeng felt silent. Soon, he understood Fang Chen’s intent, and he nodded lightly. ”I have no objections.”

”The gifts we have received will be kept for the sect’s use. You and Li Daoye will jointly manage them for the use of the disciples’ cultivation in the sect. I’ll be going away for quite some time, so you should pay extra attention. Once Li Daoye settles into his role, you can go into seclusion and focus on your own cultivation,” Fang Chen instructed.

He paused. ”Many elders have left, and their positions need to be filled.”

After naming Qi Gongxu as one of the new elders, Fang Chen left the decision for the remaining elders’ appointments to Pei Qingfeng and others.

***

At the Desolate Academy, Hall of Ancient Records.

When Elder Xun saw Fang Chen, he immediately rose and smiled. ”Is everything settled?”

Fang Chen bowed. ”For the most part, yes. It’s all thanks to your intervention, Elder Xun. Otherwise, if the Three Immortal Kings didn’t allow it, the Three Thousand Dao Sect would not have been established.”

He paused. ”Elder Xun, I have a senior brother who is the ancestor of Greenwood Sect. He didn’t come to witness the ceremony. Is there an issue...?”

”Do you really think he can know everything while staying in seclusion? Even Immortals can’t do that, let alone us, mere Loose Immortals. To Immortals, we’re hardly worth noticing,” Elder Xun said with a smile. ”But as for what you’re asking, I do know a little. That brat from Greenwood, he and his people have gone out to sea.”

”Went out to sea?” Fang Chen was momentarily stunned. ”Senior Brother Greenwood is a Profound Immortal, what’s he going to do out at sea?”

”It’s likely he’s dealing with some matters. With his cultivation, unless he runs into Immortal Kings or such figures, there’s no real danger. So don’t worry too much,” Elder Xun assured. ”By the way, are you ready to become the seventh instructor of the Desolate Academy?”

Fang Chen nodded. ”It’s just teaching the Dao. I’ve been ready for a long time.”

”Alright.”

Elder Xun waved his sleeve, and a special aura of spiritual power immediately enveloped Fang Chen.

To outside observers, Fang Chen became unfathomable, his cultivation level impossible to gauge, and his true appearance hidden from view. It was as if he was forever shrouded in mist.

The next moment, Fang Chen realized he had left the Hall of Ancient Records and arrived at a towering platform with hundreds of steps. He saw six figures standing there.

The six of them simultaneously bowed to Elder Xun.

”Dean.”

Fang Chen’s thoughts stirred. Apart from Era Immortal King and Instructor Zhao, whom he already knew, he hadn’t met the other four. They were likely the remaining four instructors of the Desolate Academy.

”Let me introduce you.” Elder Xun smiled and pointed at Era Immortal King. ”This is the Alchemy Department’s instructor, Era Immortal King. You are quite familiar with him.”

He then pointed at Instructor Zhao. ”This is the Talisman Department’s Instructor Zhao, you’ve met him before as well.”

Next, he gestured toward a tall middle-aged man. ”This is the Technique Department’s Instructor Han, you’ve met his son, Han Linqiu.”

Instructor Han smiled and nodded lightly at Fang Chen.

Elder Xun then pointed at an older man with a disheveled appearance, a huge red nose, and a rough beard. ”This is the Artifact Department’s Instructor Jin.”

Instructor Jin yawned and gave a slight nod.

Elder Xun smiled teasingly. ”You want to sleep? I can send you back to sleep.”

Instructor Jin immediately shivered. His face turned sunny and full of warmth all of a sudden, and he greeted Fang Chen with a grin. ”Instructor Fang, I look forward to working with you in the future.”

Fang Chen’s expression turned a little strange, and he nodded. ”I’m not worthy of that.”

Elder Xun turned to a tall and sturdy middle-aged man standing nearby and said. ”This is the Combat Department’s Instructor Lu.”

The other man nodded slightly toward Fang Chen.

With everyone else out of they way, Fang Chen assumed the last figure to be the Achievement Department’s Instructor.

However, before Elder Xun could speak, the man frowned and spoke first. ”Dean, although we can’t see those techniques, now that someone can, they should be incorporated into the Achievement or Technique Department first and then passed on by us.

”There’s no need to add another Instructor to the Desolate Academy. How will the powers of the Central Continent Empire view this? What will Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper think? The Desolate Academy is already under a lot of pressure, and we don’t need to add more trouble.”

The other five instructors didn’t voice their opinions, but Instructor Ji smiled and chimed in, ”Old Wen, those techniques aren’t part of the Desolate Academy’s teachings. The Dean and Instructor Fang have reached an understanding that anyone who learns from Instructor Fang will officially join the Three Thousand Dao Sect.”

”Letting Desolate Academy disciples join the Three Thousand Dao Sect... How absurd!”

Instructor Wen looked at Fang Chen and shook his head slightly, saying. ”I’m not targeting you, I’m just expressing my opinion. I think this move is unwise.”

Fang Chen remained silent.

He had already expected that there would be opposition from some of the six masters, but since this decision had been made by Elder Xun, there was no need for him to respond.

Even if all six instructors opposed it, it wouldn’t change the reality. Besides, it seemed that only Instructor Wen from the Achievement Department was opposed to the idea.

Elder Xun smiled faintly. ”If you think it’s unwise, that’s your issue. As the dean, I naturally have the authority to make this decision. If you get to sit in this position after I am gone, you can do whatever you wish.”

Instructor Wen sighed and said no more.

With that, Elder Xun continued, ”Select some disciples who are interested in Dao techniques to attend Instructor Fang’s lectures. For now, this information should not be spread outside.”

Then, he turned to Fang Chen. ”In three days, you will give a lecture here. How long you lecture, and what you teach, you can decide. I will not interfere.”

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”I understand.”

In the following three days, news spread across various departments of the Desolate Academy that a new Instructor had joined. When it was learned that this Instructor was proficient in ancient Dao techniques, many disciples were shocked.

Who would dare claim to be proficient in ancient Dao techniques in this era?

In Yu Qingzhi’s cave dwelling, a dozen or so Daoists from various departments had gathered today. Among them were Zhao Jiaolong and Hua Miaoqing.

Yu Qingzhi’s expression was serious as he looked at the others. ”Everyone, what do you think of this new Instructor named Fang?”