Immortal of the Nine Realms

Hundreds of figures walked along the Yellow Springs Road, shrouded in dense white mist. The Era Immortal King and the others had seen their fair share of the world, allowing them to rein in their emotions. On the other hand, the rest of the Spirit Blood Sect members’ shock was on full display. They had realized by now that the road they were walking was the Yellow Springs Road, leading to the Underworld.

They did not know what they would encounter next or what awaited them in the Underworld. This sense of uncertainty made them anxious.

In the past, as cultivators of the Spirit Blood Sect, they had been under the illusion of being all-powerful, superior to all beings. But after they were captured, they started understanding their current situation.

That person walking ahead of them could decide their fates with a word.

Glancing around casually, Qin Hucheng asked, ”Junior brother, so this is the Underworld? Why are there so few wandering souls on the Yellow Springs Road? There doesn’t seem to be many wandering souls besides us.”

Fang Chen glanced at him and replied indifferently, ”It’s rare for wandering souls to find their way to the Yellow Springs Road. That’s why you see few of them. It’s more common for wandering spirits to drift aimlessly in the Mortal Realm until their life force runs out.”

”And then?”

”Then there’s nothing more. Once their life force is depleted, their souls will scatter, and they lose the chance to be reincarnated.”

At this point, Fang Chen looked at the crowd and then at Qin Hucheng. Everyone here had long-lasting life forces, but Qin Hucheng’s life force appeared quite fragile. It became clear that he was speaking the truth when he said that he hadn’t consumed Blood Spirit Pills.

”Their souls would scatter.... That’s not so bad.” Qin Hucheng smiled. ”It’s like living another life.”

Fang Chen remarked, ”Ordinary wandering souls can see and hear what’s happening in the mortal realm, but they can’t interact with the world. They’re formless, without substance. From another perspective, it’s more like being on death row.”

At that moment, the Era Immortal King smiled and asked, ”Instructor Fang, these two... are the extraordinary wandering souls you commanded, right? They are as powerful as First Rate Sect Leader. I’m very curious what kind of inheritance the Heavenly Emperor gave you to allow you to hold such a position in the Underworld and command even First Rate Sect Leaders.”

As soon as he spoke, Ancestor Lixiao and the others perked up their ears, suppressing the shock in their hearts.

They had long suspected this as well. The Era Immortal King’s words basically confirmed their suspicions.

If these two were First Rate Sect Leaders from the Underworld, then the one who had killed them earlier. was probably also at the same level.

Fang Chen had three First Rate Sect Leaders at his beck and call....

What kind of powerhouse would enjoy such treatment?

The more they thought about it, the more they felt a chill creeping up their spines. They suddenly felt that their defeat wasn’t unjustified. After all, their opponent had brought along three First Rate Sect Leaders. They would’ve needed to pull a miracle if they wanted to win.

”Don’t ask questions what you shouldn’t,” Stone Dragon warned, looking at the Era immortal King with a half-smile. ”If you’re bored, I can send you to the carriage to accompany Empress Ci. That little guy in there can’t last much longer. It’s a perfect time for you to take over.”

Immortal King Ji immediately closed his mouth, eyes forward, as if he had never spoken at all.

Ancestor Lixiao and the others also fell silent, not daring to speak for fear of bringing trouble upon themselves.

Qin Hucheng couldn’t help but glance at the large red bridal palanquin. He wondered, ”Junior Brother Fang... Gai Wu has been inside for so long. She might’ve already sucked him dry, right? You’d better stop interrogating him. From what I know about him, he won’t reveal the information you want.

”In fact, it’s better for you not to know. Since you’re familiar with Qiufeng, you must know that First Rate Sect Leaders are divided into several tiers. These ones serving you... don’t quite measure up in front of the Spirit Blood Sect. They can’t even defeat Li Changsheng, can they? But you must know, Li Changsheng isn’t doing too well in Qiufeng himself. Even the people bossing him around have to act respectfully before the Spirit Blood Sect’s leader.”

”Are you asking me to compromise with the Spirit Blood Sect?” asked Fang Chen, smiling. ”Would you be willing to compromise with your former enemies if you were asked, Senior Brother?”

”I’d rather die than compromise,” Qin Hucheng replied.

Qin Hucheng slowly nodded, a look of realization flashing in his eyes. ”I understand now. The Spirit Blood Sect has thoroughly offended you, so no matter what, you will oppose them to the end.”

Fang Chen said, ”That’s right. It’s good that you understand. You’re dead now, Senior Brother. Whatever happens in the mortal world has nothing to do with you anymore. Why insist on protecting that person?

”Celestial Heaven, Northern Dipper, the Central Continent Empire... There aren’t many famous First Rate Sect Leaders. Which one of them is it?”

At that moment, the Era Immortal King chimed in, smiling. ”Instructor Fang, it’s no use asking. With those two’s statuses, the most they’ve seen is the first layer of that person’s bone frame. From what I know, that person has a bone frame of thirty-six layers. The later layers might even be something the patriarch can’t be sure of, or it might be Li Changsheng.”

Fang Chen’s gaze flickered. ”Bone frame?”

Qin Hucheng’s expression turned grim. ”Don’t try to think about it. Don’t try to guess. It will only confuse you. What you should do now is move forward.”

The Era Immortal King sighed. ”You really care for your junior brother.”

”The Spirit Blood Sect aside, I do admire my junior brother’s temperament and methods,” said Qin Hucheng with a soft smile. ”If I had met him earlier and seen the hope for the rise of the sword cultivators, perhaps I wouldn’t have joined the Spirit Blood Sect.”

Immortal King Ji shook his head. ”He’s not enough to make the sword cultivators rise. Dominating this small corner is all he can do. But outside of here... heh, take a look at Li Changsheng. He’s a proper sword cultivator, yet he could only survive by becoming some powerful figure’s son-in-law.”

Ancestor Lixiao chimed in, ”The Era Immortal King’s words are truthful. If you ever want to change the situation of the sword cultivators in Qiufeng, your only chance is to rely on the Spirit Blood Sect. Without that, you have no way forward.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the wedding procession came to a halt.

Ancestor Lixiao was slightly startled, and he quickly closed his mouth and stayed silent.

Yu Qingmei lifted the curtain and slowly walked out. She was now dressed in maid attire, her face painted with bright rouge. Whatever she had gone through had left her expression vacant and numb.

”Young Master, the empress asks to see you,” she said.

Seeing her in this state, the Yu Family people grew deeply conflicted. What had happened to the once arrogant and domineering princess to make her like this?

Fang Chen nodded and followed Yu Qingmei into the palenquin. The first thing that caught his eye was the emaciated Gai Wu.

Gai Wu’s eyes were glazed over. The moment he saw Fang Chen, his eyes filled with a plea for help. ”Fang Chen, take me out of here!”

A delicate, bone-like white hand rested on his shoulder as the empress softly blew into his ear. ”Why leave, husband? Am I not good enough?”

Yu Qingmei’s eyes were filled with pity watching this scene.

Fang Chen asked, ”Empress, let’s discuss the important matter. Have there been any findings?”

The empress’s expression immediately became more serious. She cupped her hands in salute and said, ”Young Master, he has confessed everything.”

”The cultivator who initially recruited him into the Spirit Blood Sect was named Wang Chongsong.”

”Wang Chongsong? I don’t recall hearing that name.”

”He’s the current master of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, a Dao Union Realm cultivator, Wang Chongsong.”

Fang Chen was momentarily stunned. Him?