Immortal of the Nine Realms

The battle lasted less than an hour, ending with many of the cultivators dead. Even those who survived were gravely injured and barely clinging to life.

The cultivators of the Flame Empire harbored deep hatred for them, showing no mercy whatsoever.

If the situation hadn’t turned around, it would have been them facing death.

***

Back in the palace of the Flame Empire, the number of cultivators stationed had dwindled, as most of the royal cultivators had already packed up and fled the Flame Empire ahead of time.

They hadn’t even received news of the Flame Empire ancestor’s death, yet the palace was already mostly empty.

”How much longer do we need to stand guard here? Everyone else has left, leaving just a few of us.”

”It should be soon, don’t worry. Just wait for the order from above. Speaking of which, I’m really reluctant to leave this place; it’s a pity.”

A few twelfth stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators stood in the empty imperial palace, chatting and occasionally scanning their surroundings.

Suddenly, someone looked up and cried out in alarm.

Everyone looked in unison, only to see an Immortal Boat that had, unbeknownst to them, positioned itself above the palace.

The cultivators exchanged glances.

One of them boldly called out, ”This area of the imperial palace is off-limits. Who dares to trespass here? Do you not fear the emperor’s punishment?”

”It’s you few runts,” said Chen Gongfeng, peeking out. There was a sneer on his face. He turned to Fang Chen. ”Lord Fang, these are the remnants. I can handle them.”

The several cultivators below were surprised to see Chen Gongfeng, who promptly flew out of the Immortal Boat, heading toward them.

One of them stepped forward with a smile. ”Chen Gongfeng, is the matter at Tianheng Pass resolved? What was the casualty rate among those uncooperative cultivators?”

”It’s indeed resolved, but the outcome is different from what you might think. Don’t blame me, blame yourselves for following the wrong leader.”

Chen Gongfeng smiled slightly. Without waiting for their reaction, he drew his flying sword and killed them on the spot.

He then turned back to the Immortal Boat and bowed. ”Lord Fang, this place is now clean.”

Fang Chen dissipated the Immortal Boat and led everyone toward the main hall.

It was only then that everyone aboard realized that the Immortal Boat they had been on was only a vessel condensed from spiritual energy!

They were shocked; to manipulate spiritual energy into an Immortal Boat, and to achieve such swift speeds, covering the distance from Tianheng Pass to the imperial palace of the Flame Empire in such a short time, what level of cultivation would be required?

”Lord Fang... might be far stronger than only the Golden Core Realm, right? Could he be a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator already?”

Daoist Ya was astonished. Unlike the others, he had personally witnessed Fang Chen decimate a Nascent Soul and drastically reduce his own lifespan back in the day.

At the time, he had thought Fang Chen had perished. However, years later, passing through Grand Qian again, he heard that Fang Chen, this legendary figure, had come back to life.

Ever since that day, he was certain that Fang Chen would one day become an extraordinary entity.

Today’s events seemed to confirm his suspicions.

Jin Nan and the others were also sighing.

Decades ago, when they appeared in Grand Xia due to the emergence of a spiritual marrow, Fang Chen had been so weak that they hadn’t placed him in their eyes. If anything, it was his background that scared them. Unexpectedly, in just a few decades, this figure had reached a realm they could only dream of reaching.

Compared to him, they felt like ordinary hermits, devoid of any brilliance.

Sitting down in the main hall, they exchanged stories about the recent changes in the Flame Empire.

Suddenly, there was a disturbance outside, followed by the entrance of a towering figure accompanied by several people.

Everyone was slightly startled. However, with Fang Chen present, they weren’t overly fearful of this newly appeared mysterious figure. Instead, they noticed the presence of Immortal Fire Cloud and her female disciples beside the mysterious figure.

Xia Xuanji looked at Fang Chen and smiled lightly. ”I guessed you would be waiting for me here.”

Immortal Fire Cloud, while exchanging glances with the others, felt surprised inside. The Emperor of Grand Xia had guessed correctly.

”I guessed you would have known about the Tianheng Pass incident early on.” Fang Chen said, smiling.

”Qi Zhan wanted to retreat, and I originally didn’t want to interfere, but it turned out you stepped in. However, it’s all the same in the end.”

Xia Xuanji sat down next to Fang Chen, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Yue and the others.

Abbess Zhu Yue’s expression was solemn, and as her eyes met Xia Xuanji’s, spiritual energy began to stir within her, ready to act at any moment.

She had once cooperated with Fang Chen to take down Xia Xuanji. She had seen him die with her own two eyes. Despite that, he returned yet again years later and took over Grand Xia’s throne.

Back then, she had harbored reservations. However, their meeting today ascertained that this was the same person who had supposedly died years ago.

Abbess Zhu Yue’s eyes flashed with a strange light. ”Do all Grand Xia’s people possess such miraculous abilities?”

Fang Chen had once been slain and later revived.

Now, Xia Xuanji had done the same.

Xia Xuanji’s gaze swept over everyone and said calmly, ”Fellow cultivators, I am Xia Xuanji, the current Emperor of Grand Xia. I suppose you are not unfamiliar with me?”

Everyone was shocked.

This is the Grand Xia Emperor?!

They all kept quiet, not interjecting, eager to hear what he had to say.

Xia Xuanji stated matter-of-factly, ”Now that the imperial family of the Flame Empire has fled, the Flame Empire cannot be without a ruler for a day. Naturally, it should come under Grand Xia’s jurisdiction. Do you all agree?”

Jin Nan weighed his words, glancing at Fang Chen out of the corner of his eye to gauge his reaction. Seeing his calm demeanor, he breathed a sigh of relief. ”This... is no issue. We cultivators are inherently detached from worldly affairs. Whoever becomes the emperor, we have no objections.”

”You may have no objections, but I, Grand Xia, have a rule I hope you will adhere to in the future. If you violate this rule, don’t blame me for turning my face against you, not even Fang Chen can save you.” Xia Xuanji said coldly, then looked at Fang Chen and added, ”This is the old man’s will.”

Fang Chen nodded slightly, remaining silent.

Everyone looked at each other, their expressions perplexed.

The old hen suddenly spoke up. ”What’s the rule?”

Xia Xuanji stated plainly, ”It’s simple. There is a distinction between immortals and mortals. In the future, all cultivators within Grand Xia’s borders must adhere to three rules. Firstly... do not easily descend the mountain to take disciples; secondly, set up formations at the mountain gates to isolate themselves from mortals; finally, do not interfere in mortal affairs.

”In the future, the Flame Empire will also be governed by mortals, and you must not have any involvement with the governance of this land.”

Everyone was puzzled by these rules, feeling they were both strict and lax. It wouldn’t significantly affect them, merely requiring them to maintain a certain distance from worldly affairs.

In fact, they had been doing this before, just not with such a clear boundary.

”One more thing included in this rule: do not reveal your divine powers in front of mortals lightly. If any fight affects this place, you will be executed,” Xia Xuanji continued.

Everyone exchanged glances. This rule was like putting them in shackles; they could no longer act as they wished.

Xia Xuanji looked at Fang Chen. ”Fang Chen, do these rules sit well with you?”

Fang Chen’s expression was slightly odd, but he nodded lightly, ”Indeed... They are quite to my liking.”

Everything regarding mortals should be managed by mortals themselves. This was most reasonable.

Cultivators had always been vastly different from mortals, and some decisions fail to take the circumstances of the lower classes into account.

Just like the previous conflicts between the Immortal Qin and Langya tribes.

In reality, neither side considered how the mortals would fare in their conflict.