Immortal of the Nine Realms

The group of Yin Walkers approached Huang Wenqing with grim expressions, shaking their heads in displeasure.

Huang Wenqing’s face stiffened, and anger surged within him.

Huang Wenqing communicated telepathically to several people.

”Have all the favors I’ve given over the years gone to waste? These monarchs are so ungrateful; not a single one spoke up for me. At this point, we need to think of another way. We must stabilize the situation in the underworld and avoid direct conflicts with them.”

Forcing a smile on his face, Huang Wenqing bowed and clasped his fist to Fang Chen. ”Monarch Fang, since the Spirit God Temple has been dismantled, we shall return to the Mortal Realm.”

”Do you not understand what Monarch Fang has said? You Spirit God Sect monks were involved in the attempted assassination of a monarch. You can’t just leave that easily,” Qiu Jing said with a smile.

The group looked at each other in dismay. Huang Wenqing and his subordinates couldn’t believe it.

Are they planning on detaining us?

Huang Wenqing forced a smile. ”We have always kept our distance from the various divisions. What do you mean by this, Monarch Qiu? Although we do not hold official positions, we always adhere to the rule that commoners do not fight with officials. But if it comes to a fight, do you think our strength is weaker than yours, monarchs of the underworld?”

Qiu Jing’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Jing Xue instinctively looked at Fang Chen. She whispered, ”Monarch Fang, we are severely lacking in manpower right now. A fight is not ideal. Should I make a trip to the Judgment Division?”

A hint of disdain flashed in Huang Wenqing’s eyes as he looked at Fang Chen with a sneer. ”The monarchs amount to just a few dozen at best, but Monarch Fang, do you know how many cultivators like us there are in the Spirit God Sect?”

Fang Chen asked, ”How many?”

Huang Wenqing waved his hand grandly toward the sky. ”Like the countless stars in the sky!”

Sensing some hesitation from Fang Chen, he quickly laughed. ”We have already been very polite to you, Monarch Fang. I wonder if you would now be willing to sit down and talk? There are other ways to resolve whatever misunderstandings there are, without resorting to violence.”

”There’s no need to sit down. You better keep kneeling while talking,” Fang Chen taciturnly said.

Before the crowd could react, a wave of chilling energy swept out from Fang Chen, pressing down on Huang Wenqing and the others like a massive mountain. The terrifying force left them powerless to resist, their own dark energy swirling but failing to counteract it. One by one, their knees bent, and they knelt heavily on the ground.

A look of astonishment appeared on Huang Wenqing’s face. He instinctively tried to stand, but as he barely lifted his knee an inch, the pressure doubled, crushing his kneecap into the ground.

The other Yin Walkers, finding themselves unable to withstand this power, turned their shocked eyes toward Fang Chen.

How could this monarch be so much stronger than them?

Fang Chen had rarely taken action in the underworld, and Jing Xue had only seen it once, against a Day Walker God.

Today, they truly saw Fang Chen’s strength. Effortlessly, he had suppressed those beings, whose power rivaled that of the monarchs. His cultivation... was far beyond their expectations.

Qiu Jing suppressed his astonishment and stepped forward, whispering, ”Monarch Fang, how should we deal with these people?”

”First, bring all the Spirit God Sect cultivators in the capital here for questioning, and try to prevent them from escaping back to the Mortal Realm,” Fang Chen instructed.

”Yes!”

Qiu Jing immediately turned with his subordinates and left.

”Monarch Fang, this is really just a misunderstanding. Maybe someone is deliberately framing our Spirit God Sect. Please investigate the matter properly,” Huang Wenqing pleaded again, not daring to make threats.

He hoped his submission would change Fang Chen’s mind.

”Framing your Spirit God Sect? Who would benefit from that?” Fang Chen asked.

Huang Wenqing and the others were stunned, also confused. Indeed, who would benefit from framing the Spirit God Sect?

There seemed to be no one in the underworld who had significant conflicts with the Spirit God Sect.

Fang Chen remained silent, simply waiting quietly.

Before long, Du Yunxu led his team back, having captured several hundred Spirit God Sect cultivators with varied levels of cultivation.

”This is the underworld’s capital. These Spirit God Sect members who serve here obviously have backgrounds and connections in the living world,” Fang Chen said with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

After a while, a Day Walker God returned, also having captured over a hundred Spirit God Sect members.

In just half a day, experts from both the Day Walker and Night Walker lineages had gathered.

Once Qiu Jing and the others returned, all 732 Spirit God Temples in the capital had been destroyed.

”Monarch Fang, some Spirit God Sect members heard the news and fled, having already left the underworld. We can’t do much about them,” Qiu Jing reported with a rueful smile.

Fang Chen laughed. ”No matter, with waters so deep and fish so plentiful, some are bound to slip through the net.”

Qiu Jing breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Fang Chen was reasonable.

Jing Xue had finished counting the numbers and reported, ”Monarch Fang, there are a total of 3,271 Spirit God Sect members.”

”Were they previously registered in the capital? What’s the total number?”

”Well... because they are Yin Walkers, there wasn’t proper registration. Based on my experience, the total should be around 4,000 or so,” Jing Xue answered.

”In terms of Yin Walkers, you haven’t done well. Indeed, there can be non-interference, but there also needs to be a robust management system. They shouldn’t just come and go as they please, even disappearing without a trace or accountability,” Fang Chen said.

After he spoke, his gaze fell on Huang Wenqing and the others. ”Do you admit your guilt?”

”Admit guilt?” Huang Wenqing’s face turned ugly, shaking his head. ”Monarch, it’s really a misunderstanding. What crime has our Spirit God Sect committed?”

”Monarch Fang, if they’re unwilling to admit guilt, perhaps we should take them to the torture chambers for a thorough interrogation,” Qiu Jing suggested.

Huang Wenqing’s face fell, uncertain of how he would be treated in those chambers.

”You better just admit your guilt. Perhaps Monarch Fang will show mercy and only execute those responsible for it,” Jing Xue said coolly.

Behind Huang Wenqing, a man fell to his knees. He was an Immortal King from the living world. Hearing Jing Xue’s words, he seemed to receive a hint, gritting his teeth and looking up. ”I admit my guilt!”

”Great! Since they’re admitting they did it, then execute them all!” Fang Chen ordered.

The man who had just confessed looked at Fang Chen in astonishment, unable to believe it. Before he could recover, he saw Qiu Jing approaching with a sword raised.

”You dare to execute Yin Walkers so recklessly... Be careful, or no more cultivators will choose to come to the underworld!” Huang Wenqing exclaimed angrily.

Fang Chen coolly smiled. ”Believe me, they don’t like the underworld. They only come for Yin Lifespan Coins. As long as that exists, there will always be Yin Walkers.”

”You dare to move against my Spirit God Sect, aren’t you afraid—”

”Why can’t the Spirit God Sect be touched?” Fang Chen said. ”Jing Xue, are you just going to watch Qiu Jing do all the work?”

”Yes,” replied Jing Xue, nodding and walking toward Huang Wenqing.