Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen smiled as he looked at Huang Sihai. ”Old Huang, I don’t remember you playing chess.”

Huang Sihai hadn’t been very good at chess in the past. Despite that, Tie Ma would always come over and invite him for a game. Huang Sihai would face a miserable defeat every time.

However, it seemed that Huang Sihai had improved considerably, to the point where he dominated the chessboard.

This really surprised Fang Chen.

Huang Sihai said smugly, ”It’s not like that. He just kept challenging me to games. After playing for a while, I just got better. Ever since then, he’s never been my match, haha!”

At this point, Tie Ma didn’t bother to respond to Huang Sihai. Instead, he stood up and respectfully bowed to Fang Chen. ”My lord”

Huang Sihai and Xu Ge also did the same.

Fang Chen gave a slight nod.

These three weren’t just martial artists; they had all embarked on the path of cultivation. Their cultivation was between the seventh and eighth stages of the Qi Refining Realm.

Their martial cultivation seemed to have stagnated for many years. In terms of combat power, they were far inferior to figures like Huangfu Jie. Even someone like He Hai from the Green Mountain Fleet could easily defeat them. However, when it came to lifespan, Huang Sihai and the others had an advantage. After all, cultivating was essentially a form of longevity practice.

Huang Sihai sighed. ”Lord, if only you had returned a few days earlier. The former Minister of the Board of Rites, Jiang Yushu, passed away just three days ago. But he lived a long life of over 130 years.”

Fang Chen’s interest was piqued. ”I heard that the Fifth King and the others are also in the Southern Region? Also, the former Minister of Rites, Tao Mingsheng, and the Minister of War, Ye Dongming—are they here too?”

Huang Sihai nodded. ”They have all passed away, much earlier than Minister Jiang. After all, they were neither martial artists nor cultivators.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”That’s true. When one’s lifespan is up, one inevitably has to go. This world isn’t meant for long stays. Even Huangfu Jie has passed away.”

Huangfu Jie was accompanying Fang Chen, and he looked at Huang Sihai and the others with curiosity. He wanted to know how they’d react to his death.

”Huangfu Jie? That fool passed away too??” Huang Sihai paused for a moment. He then laughed and scolded, ”This guy didn’t even make a sound, not a single sign. He should at least let us know so we could send him off.”

”He was obsessed with martial arts and hurt his foundation in his early years. Otherwise, with his cultivation, he should have lived a few more years,” Tie Ma mused.

Huangfu Jie initially felt angry when he heard Huang Sihai refer to him as a fool. However, he quickly noticed a trace of sincerity and melancholy in their eyes that couldn’t be hidden.

Tie Ma sighed softly. ”We are not very talented, my lord, unlike Zhao Yan. He’s already at the twelfth stage of the Qi Refining Realm and has gone to travel outside of Grand Xia to seek opportunities for the Foundation Building Realm. If we wait a few more years, we’ll probably turn to dust. After that, Grand Xia will belong to the younger generation.”

Huang Sihai glared at him. ”Stop saying such depressing things! This world still belongs to the lord. Are you blind? He hasn’t changed at all. He still looks so young. I think he can live for millennia, no one from the north can compare to him!”

Tie Ma smiled and nodded. ”That’s true.”

Xu Ge’s expression became slightly serious. ”Lord, have you ever been to the north? The situation in Grand Xia has changed since then…. Even Xia Yuan. is in the south now….”

He recounted the events of the past few years. After Xia Xuanji’s return, Xia Yuan’s position on the throne became unstable. After he abdicated, those willing to follow him moved to the south.

Fang Chen smiled. ”We won’t discuss that for now, but there are some things I need to tell you and see what you think.”

The others exchanged glances, their expressions becoming more serious. With their understanding of Fang Chen, they knew that whatever he was about to say was likely of great importance.

Half an hour later.

Huang Sihai and the others were shocked.

The Underworld truly exists? And the young master is a high-ranking official there?

Fang Chen said, ”Later, I’ll teach you the Path of Yin technique and send you some spiritual materials needed for it. Although there are risks involved, the benefits are beyond what ordinary people can imagine. I happen to need some manpower in the Underworld right now as well.”

Huang Sihai looked visibly excited. ”Forget becoming a Yin Walker, why don’t I just sit down and die directly, my lord? That way, I can serve you in the Underworld without having to return to the mortal realm every ten days! I’m already tired of the sights of this world. If I can go to the Underworld and lead troops to battle against Yin demons, that would be truly exhilarating!”

Tie Ma looked at Fang Chen with a solemn expression. ”Lord, Old Huang’s words are not wrong. Becoming a Yin Walker required a ritual. And we would have to return to the mortal realm every ten days. The restrictions are quite inconvenient. It might be better to go directly to the Underworld. The ways of the ghost and gods may not be weaker than the path of cultivation.”

Xu Ge’s gaze hastily swept around. ”Where’s my sword?”

Huangfu Jie looked at the three men with surprise.

Did they really not take death seriously?

Fang Chen wore a faint smile. ”You’re not like Huangfu Jie, whose lifespan ran out, and was left with no choice. You have different options. Becoming Yin Walkers will benefit your cultivation greatly. Ten days is enough for you to handle some trivial matters in the Underworld for me.”

Huang Sihai fell silent for a moment. After a few breaths, he suddenly spoke, ”Lord, what about our brethren from back then?”

Fang Chen replied, ”Some are already in the Bai Yue City in the Underworld. As for the rest, I will go to the Three World Mountain to bring them back.”

Huang Sihai rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with excitement. ”That’s great!”

Tie Ma said, ”Your Highness, we’ll go to Three World Mountain with you.”

Fang Chen shook his head. ”You will wait here. When you become Yin Walkers, you’ll be able to reunite with old comrades and brothers. That day is not far off.”

Tie Ma thought for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, a magnetic voice came from outside. ”Is anyone here?”

Huang Sihai frowned. ”Strange, who would have the time to come here?”

Fang Chen opened his grayish-white eyes and looked toward the yard. He saw a middle-aged man in a green robe standing with his back to the gate, seemingly admiring the surrounding scenery.

Fang Chen smiled. ”Go, bring him in. He’s an old acquaintance.”

Huang Sihai and the others were slightly taken aback.

”An acquaintance?”

Xu Ge went ahead to the door to greet the visitor.

When the door opened, Xu Ge looked at the unfamiliar middle-aged man standing before him, a hint of confusion rising in his heart. Why had he never seen this so-called ’acquaintance’ before?

Xu Ge smiled and invited the man inside. ”Please, follow me.”

The middle-aged man looked surprised. ”Aren’t you going to ask who I am?”

Xu Ge replied, ”My Lord says you’re an acquaintance, so you must be familiar with him,”

The middle-aged man gave a strange look. ”Did I really come to the right place?”

Muttering to himself, he looked at Xu Ge. ”Is your young master named Fang Chen?”

Xu Ge sized the man up for a moment before nodding.

”Hahaha, after all these years, I finally found the right place!” The middle-aged man laughed three times, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. He walked toward the courtyard. ”Come, take me to see your young master. He and I... are indeed old friends.”