Immortal of the Nine Realms

One of the cultivators was shocked. ”The person over there looks like Chen Chongen from Northern Dipper. He’s a Dao Union Realm cultivator... How could he have been so severely injured in the Pitu Ruins?”

”The Pitu Ruins are, after all, an ancient immortal’s legacy. Immortal methods are mysterious and unpredictable. Who knows what dangers lie inside?” another responded, looking wary.

They continued observing the Dao Union Realm cultivator, Chen Chongen, who had lost an arm. Despite his injury, his aura still faintly fluctuated with might.

Chen Chongen had long been famous in Northern Dipper, rising to prominence as an Immortal Seedling years ago. Many of his peers had either passed away or met their doom during the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. Few had managed to successfully reach the Dao Union Realm.

”Brother Chen, although you’re injured, I trust you’ve gained considerable rewards in the Pitu Ruins?” one of the Golden Immortal Sect experts who had accompanied them asked, trying to sound friendly.

”Rewards? More like a futile effort,” Chen Chongen replied, his tone calm yet tinged with frustration. He gave the speaker a brief glance, then said, ”If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

”Of course, Brother Chen. Safe travels,” the Golden Immortal Sect expert responded, bowing with a smile.

Without another word, Chen Chongen transformed into a streak of rainbow light and vanished into the horizon. As he left, the Golden Immortal Sect expert’s smile gradually faded. He glanced at the group of cultivators who had just exited the ruins, then addressed them authoritatively, ”Will you all be leaving on your own, or would you prefer to be escorted by us?”

Most of the cultivators chose to be escorted, and they boarded the immortal ships, with Fang Chen and the others being guided to the Golden Immortal Sect expert.

The Golden Immortal Sect cultivator, also a Dao Union Realm expert, maintained a calm and distant expression as he glanced at the group, only showing a hint of a smile when addressing Chen Chongen earlier. His demeanor remained aloof as he looked at Fang Chen and the others, as well as at Steward Wang and his associates.

”Have all the mid-grade spirit stones been collected?” he asked, his tone businesslike.

”Yes, yes, everything is in order,” Steward Wang answered promptly.

Along with four other stewards of similar rank, they each handed over a storage ring to the expert of the Golden Immortal Sect.

The Dao Union Realm cultivator glanced at the rings, checking the number of mid-grade spirit stones inside. After a moment of silent inspection, he nodded slightly. ”This is acceptable. You may leave the rest with me. Please inform the next batch of cultivators that the Pitu Ruins will be closed for maintenance for the next 30 years. The next opening will be in 30 years.”

”30 years?”

The stewards looked surprised but quickly nodded in understanding and turned back to their immortal ships to relay the message.

”Follow me,” the Golden Immortal Sect’s Dao Union Realm cultivator instructed, his voice calm and authoritative.

The group followed closely behind as the cultivator led them into the void. The moment they passed through, the invisible curtain of space closed behind them. The cultivators were immediately struck by the sight before them.

Hundreds of spirit mountains, large and small, hovered in the void around them. Each of these mountains, on its own, could easily become the foundation of a new sect, yet here they were, seemingly interconnected by a massive array. The spiritual energy from each mountain was interwoven into a vast web of power. At the center of this arrangement stood a magnificent golden gate, standing at over ten meters tall, engraved with intricate carvings of rare and mythical beasts.

Without saying a word, the Golden Immortal Sect’s Dao Union Realm cultivator took out a pile of mid-grade spirit stones. With a casual wave of his hand, the stones flew into the spirit mountains, where they were absorbed, further enhancing the formation.

As each spirit mountain absorbed ten mid-grade spirit stones, the expert had to have thrown thousands of spirit stones.

The Golden Immortal Sect’s Dao Union Realm cultivator calmly said, ”As you can see, to prevent the door to the immortal ruins from permanently closing, we spent a substantial amount of mid-grade spirit stones.

”Therefore, in addition to the 200 mid-grade spirit stones required, every person who enters the Pitu Ruins and manages to survive must provide the Golden Immortal Sect with a Dragon Essence Fruit.”

Everyone in the group nodded.

”We understand.”

Fang Chen, having heard about this rule from Meng Tian Shu and others, knew that the Dragon Essence Fruit was a unique fruit found only in the Pitu Ruins. While it could be considered a true immortal fruit if it grew in the Immortal Realm, it had lost much of its former properties due to its growth within the Pitu Ruins.

The expert further revealed, ”If you do not have the Dragon Essence Fruit, you will have to pay an additional two hundred mid-grade spirit stones as a penalty. If you cannot even afford the fine, you will have to stay within the Golden Immortal Sect until your elders come to collect you.”

”Any further questions?” he asked, his tone flat.

With no further objections, the group nodded and made their way toward the golden door. As they approached, the hundreds of spirit mountains seemed to come alive, their spiritual energy surging violently. The energies intertwined and converged, eventually forming a beam of golden light that struck the golden door.

The door slowly creaked open, wide enough for only two people to walk side by side. One by one, the cultivators passed through, disappearing into the golden light. Once everyone had entered, the golden light began to retract, and the door slowly began to close, leaving just a narrow gap.

”Is this the Pitu Ruins? Where’s the door? How do we get out if we want to leave?”

Some of the cultivators looked around and realized they were standing in the midst of a vast, ancient forest with towering trees. The golden door that had appeared earlier was nowhere to be seen.

”Don’t worry,” someone calmly said. ”Once the time is up, that senior from the Golden Immortal Sect will use a spell to guide us out of here. You won’t be staying in here forever. Unless you die, of course.”

After a few breaths, the group began to disperse, each following a different path as though they had prepared in advance for this journey.

”Third Brother, are you really not worried about causing trouble by sneaking into the Pitu Ruins like this?”

The burly middle-aged man cast a cold glance at Wu Tai. He was flanked by several cultivators, all of whom were formidable, with some at the Golden Core Realm and others at the Nascent Soul Realm. The man himself was at the Enlightenment Realm.

”Big Brother, are you telling me that just because you’re here, I can’t come too?” Wu Tai replied with a half-smile. ”We’re all cultivators of the same level. As long as I can afford the spirit stones, where I choose to go is none of your business, right?”

A few more figures approached, their cultivation levels not lacking in strength either, with one even at the Enlightenment Realm.

Everyone was taken aback at the sheer number of people from the Forbidden Demon Island that had arrived. It seemed that this time, they had invested an immense amount of mid-grade spirit stones.

Many cultivators exchanged skeptical looks.

Could they have received some kind of inside information? Do they know where in the Pitu Ruins there are opportunities to find treasures?

The burly middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, scanning the few figures standing beside Wu Tai. After throwing them a cold sneer, he turned and led his group away.

Wu Tai’s eyes flashed with a cold glint, but his expression immediately shifted to a smile as he greeted the several cultivators beside him.

”Everyone here is a capable disciple of the Forbidden Demon Island and stands with me. This time, we must beat my big brother to find the Profound Mother Yin Beast. If we succeed, heavy rewards await us when we return!”

Having initially planned to leave, Fang Chen halted his steps upon hearing this.

”Wu Tai,” he called out, ”Although our cultivation might not be high, we are still all Immortal Seedlings. You’re hardly in a position to be handing out rewards or issuing commands. The only reason we’re helping you is because your mother can afford the price.”

The words came from the only cultivator at the Enlightenment Realm among the group, his gaze toward Wu Tai devoid of respect and laced with disdain. The other Nascent Soul Realm cultivators shared a similar attitude.

As Immortal Seedlings, they held a certain arrogance. Even though Wu Tai came from a prominent background and was an Immortal Seedling, that still didn’t stop them from viewing him with disdain.

At that moment, someone chimed in from behind, ”You should speak more politely to Brother Wu.

Everyone watching the scene was stunned, and they all turned toward the source of the voice.

Wu Tai himself was also caught off guard.

The few Enlightenment Realm and Nascent Soul Realm cultivators raised their eyebrows and slowly turned their attention to Fang Chen.