Immortal of the Nine Realms

After everyone introduced themselves, they felt a bit closer to each other and took their seats, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

Xu Peng still felt something was off and secretly sent a voice transmission. ”Fang Daoist, other than catching up with me, do you have any other matters to attend to here?”

Fang Chen smiled, glancing at Xu Peng with the corner of his eye. ”No, just catching up with you. Is that not alright?”

Xu Peng chuckled awkwardly, subtly nodding. ”Of course, that’s fine...”

In his heart, Xu Peng couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

In the distance, a middle-aged man stood, his sharp gaze piercing through the layers of void, taking in the entire scene before him.

A woman walked over to the middle-aged man and asked softly, ”Dear, what’s wrong?”

The middle-aged man’s expression grew solemn. ”The Sword Leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect has come to find Peng’er.”

”The Sword Leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect? Is that Fang Chen?” The woman was momentarily stunned, then smiled. ”So he and Peng’er are acquainted? It seems Peng’er has really grown up. He was able to make friends with such an outstanding person.”

”Grow up? He is already a Golden Core. He grew up a long time ago. It’s just...” The middle-aged man furrowed his brow. ”I don’t want him to get too close to Fang Chen. This person is entangled in too many causes and karma. He gives me an uneasy feeling.”

”Why? I’ve heard that Sword Leader Fang is a rare talent. Not long ago, he performed Dao questioning on the sword cultivators of the Kunlun Sword Sect and left them speechless.”

The woman chuckled. ”Even his cultivation is advancing rapidly. Not long ago, his cultivation was not even higher than Peng’er’s, yet now Peng’er is still at the Golden Core Realm, and he’s already at the Enlightenment Realm.”

”It’s precisely because of this that I don’t want Peng’er to get too close to him. The Nine Generation King’s Prince was also a rare genius, but he’s nowhere near as capable as Fang Chen. It’s beneficial for Peng’er to interact with him, but getting close to Fang Chen... I fear it will bring disaster.”

The middle-aged man sighed. ”Have you heard about the matter with Li Xiao that happened not too long ago? Gai Shizun has only two sons, both of whom died one after the other. One even died at Fang Chen’s hands. However, he doesn’t dare utter a word now. There’s something strange about this whole situation.”

”I’ve heard a little about it. Gai Shizun has kept quiet, probably because he feels guilty. After all, the Gaiwu and the Yu family were deeply involved with the Spirit Blood Sect, and their deaths are well-deserved.”

The middle-aged man’s expression grew complex. ”Being too deeply involved with the Spirit Blood Sect is not... a good thing.”

The woman was surprised. ”Why do you say that, Dear?”

The middle-aged man explained, ”There are many things you’re unaware of. No sect in the Central Continent can compare with the Spirit Blood Sect’s foundation. They operate too perversely, which is why many Immortal Kings are too afraid to openly take a stance. Actually, from what I know, there are at least twenty Immortal Kings involved with the Spirit Blood Sect.”

The woman’s expression grew serious. She had never heard her husband speak of such matters before.

The Spirit Blood Sect’s foundation is that deep?

”Once he leaves, ask Peng’er to come find me. I need to have a serious talk with him,” said the middle-aged man.

The woman nodded.

***

The next day, Fang Chen took his leave. Xu Ying didn’t expect Fang Chen to stay for only one day, leaving her feeling rather reluctant. She kept signaling Xu Peng, hoping he would ask Fang Chen to stay.

Xu Peng turned a blind eye to his sister’s pleas. He couldn’t wait to send Fang Chen away, feeling that everything about the situation seemed off.

Xu Peng waved. ”Daoist Fang, come visit again when you have time,”

Fang Chen smiled and cupped his hands in salute, using his sword technique to vanish into the horizon.

As Fang Chen cut through the air, a streak of multi-colored light appeared in the distance, growing nearer by the second.

When the multi-colored light drew close to Fang Chen, it abruptly vanished, and Xu Ruinian appeared, looking surprised.

”...Hmm, isn’t that Daoist Fang? Why are you leaving so soon? Aren’t you going to stay a few more days at the Green Elephant Sect?”

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. ”Daoist Xu, I still have urgent matters to attend to, so I can only stay for a day at the Green Elephant Sect. Perhaps next time.”

With that, Fang Chen prepared to leave.

Seeing Fang Chen about to depart, Xu Ruinian did not stop him. He merely watched thoughtfully as Fang Chen’s sword light began to disappear into the horizon. Just before the sword light vanished, Xu Ruinian gently waved his sleeve.

The spiritual energy in the air instantly surged, and a sea of flames surrounded Fang Chen.

This fire energy was no ordinary force. Even Fusion Realm cultivators would struggle to resist it, let alone an Enlightenment Realm cultivator. The energy barrier would not be able to hold against it.

Fang Chen’s gaze hardened. He slowly turned around and saw Xu Ruinian walking out of the flames.

”Daoist Xu, what is the meaning of this?” asked Fang Chen, his voice stern.

Xu Ruinian smiled and cupped his hands. ”Daoist Fang, I heard you acquired the second-grade Blood Spirit Pill from the battle at Li Xiao. It seems you are a member of the Killing Spiritual Division, yes? You must abhor the actions of the Spirit Blood Sect, and certainly, you wouldn’t dare to consume the Blood Spirit Pill yourself. I wonder if you would consider selling it to me?”

”I am at the Ninth Tribulation of the Dao Union Realm, and I have already passed seven tribulations. However, I lack confidence in overcoming the remaining two. If I had the Blood Spirit Pill to aid me, I would surely be able to cross this threshold and ascend to the Tribulation Realm. I hope you will consider helping me.”

”Daoist Xu, as a cultivator of the Green Elephant Sect, wouldn’t consuming the Blood Spirit Pill be aiding the Spirit Blood Sect?” Fang Chen’s face darkened. ”The second-grade Blood Spirit Divine Pill is no longer in my possession. You must be mistaken. Withdraw your methods, and I will treat today’s incident as a misunderstanding and not pursue it further.”

”Not in your possession?” Xu Ruinian’s brows furrowed slightly, then he shook his head. ”I don’t quite believe that. Unless, of course, you’re willing to hand over your storage ring so that I can check for myself.”

”So you intend to kill me and take my belongings, Daoist Xu?” Fang Chen suddenly laughed. ”If the Void Immortal Sword Sect and the Desolate Academy find out, I’m afraid the Green Elephant Sect won’t be able to protect you, will they?”

Xu Ruinian wore a faint smile. ”I have sealed this area. No one will know of today’s events.”

”If you are unwilling to hand over the second-grade Blood Spirit Pill, I can no longer allow you to leave.”

The sea of flames began to contract rapidly.

Fang Chen’s spiritual energy surged within him, forming a barrier around him. However, this barrier appeared fragile in the face of the fire, quickly dissolving when it came into contact with the flames.

As the sea of flames continued to shrink, Fang Chen’s hair and skin visibly began to wither. The terrifying heat had not yet fully engulfed him, but his skin was already starting to burn and blacken.

Xu Ruinian thought for a moment before cupping his hands respectfully.

”Master, if this continues, he will die.”

Another figure emerged from the flames. It was an elderly man who appeared to be in his fifties. He smiled as he looked at Fang Chen.

”You were once quite safe in the Void Immortal Sword Sect, but you insisted on coming to the Green Elephant Sect’s territory. Seems like you’ve brought yourself to a point of no return,” said the elderly man with his tone full of amusement.

Fang Chen’s gaze flickered. ”Senior, you are?”

”I am Huang Chan. You haven’t met me before.” Huang Chan chuckled. ”Is that second-grade pill still with you?”

Fang Chen replied, ”It was taken by someone else long ago.”

”What a pity... but it doesn’t matter. Handing you over would still count as a merit, especially since you even managed to kill Old Ji,” said Huang Chan with a faint smile.

Fang Chen sighed. ”So it turns out both of you are also Spirit Blood Sect cultivators.”

Xu Ruinian laughed. ”You’re only realizing it now? You don’t quite live up to your name.”

Huang Chan smiled softly. ”Without some expert guiding you from behind, a mere junior like you couldn’t possibly have ruined so many of our sect’s plans.”

After a pause, he was about to raise his hand to capture Fang Chen when he suddenly noticed his arm shrinking.

Huang Chan’s expression froze, and in the next moment, he transformed into a shriveled toad, falling into the sea of fire and turning into dust.