Immortal of the Nine Realms

A few days later, a series of messages spread from within Lixiao. Through various Killing Spiritual Division cultivators, Xun Xiyin learned that the situation across the regions was gradually stabilizing.

”Sword Leader Fang, within about half a month, the situation should be under control,” Xun Xiyin said, looking toward Fang Chen. ”I’ve already requested additional manpower from the Central Continent Empire. Even if some Spirit Blood Sect cultivators remain stubborn, they won’t be able to stir up much trouble.”

Fang Chen cupped his hands and said, ”Then, it’s time for me to leave. As for things here, I’ll leave them in your hands to ensure there won’t be a resurgence.”

”That is my responsibility,” Xun Xiyin nodded lightly, her gaze falling on Emperor Lixiao.

Seeing her look, Emperor Lixiao immediately stepped forward and respectfully said, ”Please give your instructions, Fourth Princess.”

Xun Xiyin gazed at him coldly. ”From now on, you alone will manage Lixiao. I don’t want to see anything like this happening again, or else the Yu Family will face extermination. Do you understand?”

”I understand,” Emperor Lixiao responded solemnly with a nod.

Outside the hall, Zhao Jiaolong and the others saw Fang Chen step out and immediately approached.

Fang Chen smiled faintly. ”Do you still have something to discuss?”

Zhao Jiaolong and the others weren’t the only ones to have stayed behind. Even Han Linqiu and his group were still here.

Zhao Jiaolong had a grim look on his face. He respectfully asked, ”Junior Brother Fang, may we take... Era Immortal King’s corpse back with us?”

”I will personally deliver it back,” Fang Chen replied.

Zhao Jiaolong and the others immediately relaxed. They could only rest at ease by giving the Era Immortal King a proper burial. Regardless of whether he had been conspiring with the Spirit Blood Sect, he had been an instructor of the Desolate Academy. If his body were left to rot in the wilderness, it would leave them feeling unsettled.

Fang Chen looked at Han Linqiu and the others. ”You four, what about you?”

Wang Yi cupped his fist. ”Senior Brother Fang, you’re heading back to the Central Continent Empire, right? We were specifically waiting to travel with you. Is that alright?”

Fang Chen furrowed his brow. ”Travel with me? Why?”

Han Linqiu hesitated. ”We...”

Han Xiuxian found it odd that Han Linqiu was acting this way. This older brother of his had always been favored by his father, making him rather prideful. It was unusual for him to hesitate like that.

Su Lingzhu cupped his fist. ”Actually, before we came to Lixiao, we heard about a place that had suffered a great disaster. Now that I think about it... the so-called great disaster may be related to the Spirit Blood Sect. Senior Brother Fang, are you interested in going there?”

Han Xiuxian’s expression changed slightly as he finally understood why Han Linqiu had been hesitant. His expression grew serious.

”Big Brother, Father has always warned us not to get involved with the Spirit Blood Sect...”

Han Linqiu replied, ”Originally... we weren’t interested in this matter, but after seeing the actions of the Spirit Blood Sect, this is the Central Continent Empire’s territory. We cannot allow such evil forces to grow unchecked.”

Xu Peng sneered. ”The Spirit Blood Sect made me lose face this time, and I want to make them pay.”

Wang Yi calmly added, ”They shouldn’t have reached out to us sword cultivators. If I turn a blind eye this time, then I would no longer deserve to hold a sword.”

At that moment, Xun Xiyin walked out of the hall and looked at the four. ”Sword Leader Fang, you can take them along. Since they want to involve themselves, let them join.”

She then addressed them, ”You are juniors of the Divine Dao Sect. Don’t embarrass the Divine Dao Sect. Once you make your decision, don’t go back on it.”

”Rest assured, Goddess Shen Ji,” the four said in unison, cupping their fist.

Apart from this experience that had nearly led them to losing their lives, Xun Xiyin was one reason they had decided to act decisively this time.

As someone born into royalty, Goddess Shen Ji had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of cultivators. Even if she did nothing for the rest of her life, as the Goddess Shen Ji of the Divine Dao Sect, she would still stand at the peak of the world. Yet, she had done so much, which had caused the four to reflect deeply in the past few days.

Perhaps, cultivation wasn’t only about seeking immortality.

”Alright, you can come with me,” Fang Chen said, smiling as he nodded.

The four of them immediately sighed in relief. They had feared Fang Chen would reject them. If that happened, not only would they lose face, but the determination they had finally mustered would likely disappear as well.

At that moment, someone’s old voice rang out beside them. ”Joining the Killing Spiritual Division... It’s not an easy path.”

Zhao Jiaolong and the others froze slightly. When they saw who had arrived, they hurriedly cupped their fists and bowed, their eyes filled with astonishment.

”Greetings, Patriarch.”

The patriarch of the Desolate Academy?

Han Linqiu and the others were startled and quickly bowed as well.

Xun Xiyin’s expression shifted, and she quickly walked over to the elder, bowing respectfully. ”Ancestor.”

”No need for formalities,” the elder said with a smile, waving his hand. ”I see that in a few years, the world will likely be in the hands of you juniors.”

The elder’s gaze suddenly shifted to the distance, where Stone Dragon and Empress Ci were standing, with the Era Immortal King’s corpse at their feet.

Elder Xun walked over to Stone Dragon and Empress Ci, picked up the Era Immortal King’s corpse, and then turned back to Fang Chen’s side.

”Elder Xun... the Era Immortal King... ” Fang Chen said.

”I know already,” Elder Xun interrupted with a smile. ”He took the wrong path, and he deserved this tribulation. I only hope that after his death, you will show him some respect, at least for my sake.”

With that, Elder Xun disappeared from everyone’s sight, and Zhao Jiaolong, Hua Miaoqing, and Han Xiuxian disappeared along with him.

Xun Xiyin said softly, ”It seems the Elder doesn’t want the Desolate Academy to continue involving itself with the Spirit Blood Sect’s matters, but he didn’t stop you either.”

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”That’s enough.”

What Elder Xun said implied he had some understanding of the Underworld.

”Princess, I’ll take my leave now,” Fang Chen said, cupping his fists.

”Wait a moment,” said Xun Xiyin.

Her expression shifting slightly, she asked, ”Have you ever met your ancestor, Fang Tingyuan?”

Fang Chen was surprised upon hearing that. He shook his head. ”No....”

At this moment, he felt a hint of suspicion about Fang Tingyuan’s identity. He wondered if this ancestor and the old man from his family might be the same person.

Xun Xiyin’s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she hid it well, then smiled and waved her hand.

”I won’t see you off,” she said, her tone light.

Fang Chen nodded.

Suddenly, Han Linqiu and the others felt the scenery around them change. By the time they realized it, they were standing on top of a massive dragon’s head. However, the dragon’s head was only a skull, devoid of flesh and blood.

The four of them gasped in fear.

As a demonic cultivator, Xu Peng was especially sensitive to the aura radiating from the dragon’s skill. He couldn’t stop his legs from trembling. A cold sensation swept through his dantian, nearly causing him to lose control of his inner qi.

After hearing their questions, Fang Chen instructed the Tai Yin Dragon King to take them to meet Victorous Buddha and the others, and then arranged to gather at a specific location.

”Senior... Senior Brother Fang, what is this...?” Xu Peng stammered, his voice trembling with fear as he looked down at the dragon’s skull.

”An ancestor of your demon race,” Fang Chen replied with a smile. ”You all go ahead. We’ll join you later.”

Before Xu Peng and the others could say anything further, Tai Yin Dragon King had already taken them away, disappearing into the horizon.

For safety’s sake, the True Monarch of Pan Mountain followed along. They couldn’t be certain that the First Rate Sect Leader that had made a move earlier had left. He could still be lurking in the shadows, watching their every move.

Fang Chen turned to Stone Dragon and Empress Ci. ”Please follow me to the Lesser Underworld. The wandering souls of the Era Immortal King and the others need to be properly settled there. I also intend to visit the capital of the Lesser Underworld as well.”

The tangled mess was ready to be stirred up; it was time to see what secrets were hidden beneath the surface.