Immortal of the Nine Realms

In the Underworld, Xue Shan stood in front of Fang Chen with a blank expression. When Fang Chen asked him a question, he would answer without reservation.

With a soft smile, Fang Chen said, ”I’ve heard that Li Wuwang is very interested in the inheritance of the two anomalies from Tuxiong Star and has even captured one of their successors. Do you know where they are now?”

Fang Chen had a feeling that Ancestor Qingmu and Ancestor Hong Qing were not dead yet. If they had died and entered the Underworld, he would have been able to sense them. The only other possibility was that their wandering souls were still in the Mortal Realm and couldn’t find their way to the Yellow Springs.

”As for Li Wuwang’s matters... I’m just at the Ascension Realm, how could I possibly know?” Xue Shan lowered his voice. ”But if Li Wuwang truly captured someone alive, they should be imprisoned in the Thousand Dao Tower.”

Fang Chen’s gaze flickered. ”The Thousand Dao Tower, one of the three sects?”

Xue Shan nodded. ”Yes, the old ancestor Li Wuwang has a very good relationship with the Thousand Dao Tower.”

Fang Chen inquired, ”The Thousand Dao Tower is part of the great Daoist Sects, and the tower master is the one in charge of the Spirit God Sect’s prison in Qiufeng, right?”

”I... don’t know,” Xue Shan responded.

”You don’t seem to be honest,” remarked Empress Ci, covering her mouth as she laughed. With eyes full of charm, she joked, ”Is it because this little lady here hasn’t served you properly?”

Xue Shan trembled. He hurriedly said, ”I am just a small fry! I truly don’t know. How about we capture Lu Qingshu? He is a disciple of Li Wuwang and will certainly know the hidden secrets.”

Empress Ci’s eyes flashed with a cold gleam. ”Can you capture him?”

Although Lu Qingshu wasn’t as strong as Li Changsheng, he was still a first-transformation Loose Immortal sword cultivator. Even if Stone Dragon and the others join forces, they may not be able to kill him.

”Empress Ci, take him away first,” Fang Chen said.

”Understood.”

Empress Ci waved her hand lightly, and Xue Shan was swept in front of her by the red sleeve robe. His face ashen, he was dragged away like a tamed pet.

***

Qiufeng.

On a picturesque mountain range, Fang Chen followed the address Huang Chan had given him and found the cave dwelling he had mentioned.

If Huang Chan wasn’t lying, the cave should contain a portion of his wealth, as well as the spiritual herbs needed for cultivating the Four Stage Profound Yang Body.

Fang Chen activated his Primordial Immortal Eye. Everything around him transformed into lines. The mountain range, which originally seemed ordinary, now revealed a completely different structure. Every hundred feet contained a deadly formation, and those countless formations were all sub-formations of a larger grand formation.

If any unaware cultivator accidentally wandered into this place, they would become nourishment for them. In fact, there were already items scattered around on the ground, a clear sign that some unfortunate cultivators had wandered into this place and met their undoing.

With a smile, Fang Chen used his divine sense to probe the way forward.

***

Between Quifeng and Longyuan was the Great Luo Heavenly Desert. Here, massive cities were built, and various forces competed for control over the spiritual mines and veins. Some cultivators came from Longyuan, others from Qiufeng. The four great families, the three major sects, and even the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land had all made arrangements here due to the high-quality spirit stones found here. Even top-grade spirit stones and immortal crystals would occasionally be unearthed here.

”Have you all heard about the issue between the Long and Sun Families? Don’t get involved with them. Those sword cultivators have gone mad.”

”You’re the one who’s crazy! How dare you treat these sword cultivators the same way as before? They’ve produced a third-tribulation Loose Immortal. Their combat power is likely unmatched in Qiufeng. I wonder if that person from Nine Immortals Mountain can compete with them.”

”Sigh, I never expected the Sword Path to produce a third-transformation Loose Immortal. The sword cultivators I’ve seen before either died in battle or perished from their lifespan running out.”

”I heard that because of this incident, the Divine Luo Sect has also started to split. Some of the Divine Luo Sect cultivators I know said that the sect has split into two factions.

”One wants to cooperate with the sword cultivators and launch an integration of the Great Luo Heavenly Desert, while the others oppose any form of cooperation with sword cultivators, believing that doing so goes against the traditional stance of orthodox cultivators.

”If that third-tribulation sword cultivator dies from old age, Qiufeng will inevitably return to how it was before, and there will certainly be consequences to face.”

”Why should we care about this? For now, let’s avoid getting involved in this matter. By the way, did the demoness the Divine Luo Sect is hunting down die yet? One of my brothers died at her hand. She’s too bloodthirsty, and her methods are vicious. But her cultivation isn’t high, so why hasn’t the Divine Luo Sect dealt with her yet?”

”I heard she’s already escaped near Great Python City. I’m not sure if the information is true, but to have survived this long under the pursuit of the Divine Luo Sect’s experts... she must be quite extraordinary.”

Fang Chen was sipping on a cup of tea as he listened to the conversation.

Near Great Python City? thought Fang Chen.

He put down his teacup and stood up to leave.

The Great Luo Heavenly Desert was vast, and Great Python City was located in the direction closer to Longyuan. If Fairy Yu was indeed in that area, her goal might be to escape into Longyuan.

At that point, even though the Divine Luo Sect might have powerful methods in the Great Luo Heavenly Desert, they wouldn’t be able to extend their reach into Longyuan’s domain. After all, cultivators care more about their territory than even the most ruthless gangs in the mortal world.

***

Great Python City.

This place was bustling with activity, filled with people coming and going. Various major powers had established their presence here, including the Sword Duel Palace, chambers of commerce, and so on.

However, the Sword Duel Palace had already closed its doors. Until the situation became clearer, the sects to which the sword cultivators belonged no longer imposed strict control over them.

A woman, her face veiled by a light gauze, walked through the crowd. Her gaze was indifferent, as though she had no emotions or feelings.

Nearby, several figures with sharp eyes were scanning the crowd, seemingly searching for someone. But every time their gaze was about to land on the woman, she would notice and cleverly avoid them. She either used other people as cover or hid behind objects, never once using any spiritual energy.

Before long, the woman silently approached one of the cultivators searching for her.

Puff.

The cultivator didn’t even have time to react before he fell, his vital blood merging with the woman’s body.

By the time his companions realized what had happened, the woman had already disappeared into the crowd.

Fang Chen, sitting by the window in a tea house, watched the entire scene unfold. A cultivator in the Fusion Realm... killed just like that. This Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo is far more terrifying than I imagined.

Wang Chongsong may have already met Fairy Yu.

Perhaps Wang Chongsong hadn’t yet made his move. Currently, besides the Divine Luo Sect cultivators searching for Fairy Yu, there was no sign of Wang Chongsong nearby.

Fang Chen did not reveal himself. Judging by Fairy Yu’s current state, it seemed as though she had completely forgotten everything, as Long Ruo had conveyed in his message. She had completely fallen into demonic possession. Aside from her identical appearance, Fang Chen couldn’t find any trace of her former self.

If he were to act rashly and reveal himself, it could lead to some misunderstandings.

Before long, Fairy Yu arrived at a residence in Great Python City. Fang Chen followed her in the shadows.

Wang Chongsong stood with his hands behind his back, his back to Fairy Yu. ”How do you feel?”

Fairy Yu’s expression was indifferent. ”Master, why do you not allow me to kill them all? If I absorb their lifespans, my cultivation will rise even further.”

Fang Chen’s gaze fell upon Wang Chongsong, his eyes cold as ice.

”Didn’t I warn you? The Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo is not a common thing. Your cultivation has grown rapidly during this time, and I fear it has already attracted the attention of demonic cultivators. They aren’t the problem. What’s dangerous is the presence chasing them. Besides, a rapid rise in cultivation won’t do you good. It will erase your humanity.”

A frown appeared on Fairy Yu’s face. ”Humanity? What use is that?”

”How can it be of no use? Humans are the most intelligent of creatures,” Wang Chongsong said with a soft smile. ”I had you walk this path hoping to gain insight from you, so that I might take my final step. So don’t act recklessly. As for the Divine Luo Sect, I will deal with them for you. Afterward, you should stay hidden for a while.”