Immortal of the Nine Realms

Elder Xun’s words made Fang Chen abandon the idea of having ten split souls.

”Then I’ll do nine split souls,” Fang Chen said.

”Nine?” Elder Xun gave him a strange look. ”Let me crunch the numbers for you. You need 300 mid-grade spirit stones for one tael of Condensing Spirit Liquid. This is the cost price at the Desolate Academy, mind you. Now, one split soul requires one tael, two require three taels, and three require five.

“Four souls will need seven, five souls will need nine, and six souls will need one pound and two taels. Seven souls require two pounds. Eight souls require four pounds, and finally, nine souls require ten pounds of Condensing Spirit Liquid.”

”If you are planning on doing nine splits, you will need at least 30,000 mid-grade spirit stones,” said Elder Xun, frowning. ”The Desolate Academy currently has less than two pounds of Condensing Spirit Liquid.

He explained, ”Condensing Spirit Liquid is the nectar of the Stabilizing Spirit Flower, which can occasionally be found in various immortal ruins or in places that have been untouched for many years. For example, there are many islands in the Immortal Demonic Sea that have not been visited for tens of thousands of years, where the Stabilizing Spirit Flower has the chance to grow.

”Apart from these sources, most of the Condensing Spirit Liquid must be bought from Qiufeng. They have more quantity there, but the price is higher than what the Desolate Academy offers, possibly around 400 to 500 mid-grade spirit stones per tael.”

Elder Xun paused for a moment before continuing, ”Many Enlightenment Realm cultivators will never have the chance to split their souls in their lifetime. Apart from limitations in talent and lifespan, Condensing Spirit Liquid is also a crucial factor.

”Additionally, we have some disciples at the Desolate Academy who are planning to do their soul splitting, so we have to reserve some of the stock for them. The most we can sell you is one pound and two taels. If you are adamant on doing nine splits, you will have to find the rest yourself.”

Fang Chen couldn’t help but click his tongue in surprise. The price was indeed quite expensive. For an ordinary Enlightenment Realm cultivator, even having a little over one hundred mid-grade spirit stones would make them a small tycoon. For them, even splitting two souls would drain their entire fortune.

Fortunately, he didn’t have such concerns. He not only had sixty thousand mid-grade spirit stones to his name, but he even had fifty high-grade spirit stones.

There was no direct exchange ratio between high-grade and mid-grade spirit stones. In fact, no one would be willing to trade high-grade spirit stones for the inferior mid-grade ones. However, as long as Fang Chen was willing, he could set a price that others would accept. He could even sell a piece for ten million if he chose to.

”Besides the limitation of Condensing Spirit Liquid, you also need sufficient inheritances to cultivate those split souls, right?” Elder Xun said. ”After all, if all the split souls cultivate the same inheritance, the benefits of combining them later won’t be great.”

Fang Chen was surprised to hear that. ”Not great?”

Elder Xun nodded. ”Normally, a person can only focus on one or two inheritances at a time. If you try to cultivate more, you wouldn’t have the energy to manage them all. After all, you can’t just practice a little bit of this and a little bit of that and expect to make any real progress.”

”That’s why each avatar should pursue a different inheritance. Only then, when they reunite, will you truly benefit. Otherwise, it’s pointless to split into so many. If you don’t have enough inheritances, there’s no need to pursue splitting more souls.”

”Thank you for the advice, Elder Xun,” Fang Chen said thoughtfully, nodding.

When it came to cultivation methods, he’d only learned the Three Thousand Dao Art so far, but he had countless techniques at his disposal, like an endless sea. Just the Heavenly Abhorrence Technique alone had several variations.

There was also the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture, the Heavenly Supreme Pill Technique, and the Four Stage Profound Yang Body. Fang Chen had all these incredible techniques at his disposal.

Thinking of this, Fang Chen decided he would still try to split into nine souls, so each could focus on a different method, forming a solid foundation.

Elder Xun seemed to sense his decision. With a simple gesture, he conjured a jade bottle in his hand.

”This contains one pound and two taels of Condensing Spirit Liquid, take it,” he said calmly.

Fang Chen was about to offer payment, but Elder Xun waved his hand. ”Forget it, I won’t take your mid-grade spirit stones. Consider it a gift from an elder to a junior. Just accept it.”

Fang Chen smiled and accepted the Condensing Spirit Liquid. ”Thank you, Elder Xun.”

After chatting briefly with Elder Xun, he turned to leave.

”This kid... wants to do nine splits? Will he even be able to advance to the Fusion Realm?” Elder Xun murmured, shaking his head. ”Splitting into nine is no easy feat. He may not succeed.”

***

To speed up his collection, Fang Chen spent heavily to enlist Mirror of the Universe’s guidance.

Suddenly tasked with such a lucrative and low-effort job, the Mirror of the Universe was thrilled. Under its guidance, Fang Chen visited various markets, sects, mountains, and large trading companies.

Condensing Spirit Liquid was considered a strategic resource. It wasn’t commonly sold unless absolutely necessary. Typically, it was reserved for internal use by the sect’s disciples. On lucky days, Fang Chen could buy a tael. However, most of the time, he could only collect two or three maces.

For an ordinary cultivator, accumulating ten pounds of Condensing Spirit Liquid would take at least a hundred years. Most of that time would be wasted on the journey. Fortunately, Fang Chen didn’t have such concerns. By constantly traveling through the Underworld at incredible speeds, he could reach various places swiftly. If the Underworld couldn’t take him to his destination, he would then resort to using his sword technique to travel.

As his stash of Condensing Spirit Liquid grew, his mid-grade spirit stones dwindled.

Several months later, Fang Chen arrived at the entrance of a sect’s headquarters, gazing at the plaque that read ”Profound Seeking Sect” with a somewhat complicated expression.

Years ago, in the Demon Cloud Empire, he had discovered a Nascent Soul corpse belonging to Du Fei, a cultivator from the Profound Seeking Sect. He had found that the sect’s Grand Elder was a disciple of the Spirit Blood Sect and was plotting something terrifying, which ultimately led to his pursuit and death in a foreign land.

Fang Chen had never had the time to visit the Profound Seeking Sect, but he had not expected that, while collecting Condensing Spirit Liquid, he would coincidentally arrive.

”Do they really have a pound and two taels of Condensing Spirit Liquid here?” asked Fang Chen.

”Little Brother, when have I ever been wrong? But whether they sell it to you or not, I can’t control that,” the Mirror of the Universe responded.

Fang Chen’s mind stirred. One pound and two taels...? Could it be that a grand completion stage Enlightenment Realm cultivator here is planning to advance to the Fusion Realm by doing six splits?

He recalled the encounter with a cultivator from Profound Seeking Sect named Bai Xiujie or something, whom he and Fairy Yu had met along the way. That person had mentioned that the Grand Elder of Profound Seeking Sect had already advanced to the Enlightenment Realm and had tied the knot with a female cultivator from the Immortal Giant Sect, becoming Dao Companions.

If someone was indeed planning to advance to the Fusion Realm, it was highly likely that it was this Grand Elder. Only by consuming the Blood Spirit Pill would one’s cultivation progress so rapidly.

As a sect, it was unlikely that someone had been standing outside their gate for so long without being noticed. However, the gatekeepers of the Profound Seeking Sect did not dare approach, as Fang Chen gave them the feeling of his cultivation being unfathomable.

After a few moments, a figure broke through the air. A female cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm approached. Upon seeing her, the gatekeepers bowed respectfully.

”Greetings, Elder Hui Ru!”

Du Huiru gave a slight nod and turned her gaze toward Fang Chen. She coldly asked, ”How long has he been here?”

One of the disciples reported, ”He arrived a little while ago but didn’t approach the gate. We were unsure whether he was an enemy or a friend, so we could only send word to you, Elder.”

”You did well,” Du Huiru acknowledged with a nod.

She nodded and led a group of cultivators to the gate. From a distance, she clasped her hands in greeting. ”I am Profound Seeking Sect Elder Du Huiru. Greetings, Fellow Daoist.”

She couldn’t see through his cultivation, which meant his level was almost certainly above hers.

”You’re surnamed Du as well?” Fang Chen asked, glancing at her.

Seeing his pale pupils, Du Huiru’s heart stirred. A blind man?

However, she paid more attention to the question he had just asked.

”Daoist, have you met another cultivator from Profound Seeking Sect who shares the same name as me?” asked Du Huiru, eyes lighting up with curiosity.