Immortal of the Nine Realms

After the fall of the Long Family, Prison Wind Lands became a stronghold of the Heavenly Sword Division.

Li Changsheng was the person in charge of the division. Lu Qingshu was the next in line, holding slightly less authority than Li Changsheng.

Chen Zuozu was kneeling before them and crying uncontrollably.

Li Changsheng sat upright in the main seat, gazing at him with an indifferent expression.

On the other hand, Lu Qingshu looked gloomy. When he first heard from Chen Zuozu that Fang Chen had appeared in Longyuan, he wanted to draw his sword and charge out to find Fang Chen. However, upon learning that Chen Qingtai and the others had been killed by a group of unfamiliar Loose Immortals that accompanied Fang Chen, Lu Qingshu restrained himself.

”Xu He was also a first-transformation Loose Immortal, with cultivation on par with mine, yet even he was besieged and killed. What capabilities does that Fang bastard have that he can command so many Loose Immortals? And that’s not even the worst of it. How did he know we were going to target Chen Qianlong? Who else did you share that list from Daoist Yun Ding with?” Lu Qingshu questioned, turning to look at Li Changsheng. His eyes were filled with suspicion.

”Why are you looking at me like that?” Li Changsheng responded flatly. ”Do you think I would know all that? The only thing I know is that back then, the boy obtained some fortuitous opportunity and was marked by an Extraordinary Being. But the world is not short on those who are noticed by Extraordinary Beings. No one can say for sure the kind of inheritance he received.”

Lu Qingshu said with a darkened expression, ”Extraordinary Beings, Extraordinary Beings... I don’t understand why you and Master are so wary of them.”

If Li Wuwang hadn’t been so cautious of the Extraordinary Beings from Tuxiong Star, Lu Qingshu wouldn’t have had to suffer the humiliation of being forced to drink the filthy remains of a mortal! That humiliation had become a permanent scar. As long as those sword cultivators who were present back then were still alive, it would never be erased!

Chen Zuozu cried out in anguish, ”Uncle Li, you must seek justice for our Chen family! My father died so tragically!”

Li Changsheng gave a slight nod. ”I understand. You may leave now. I will get justice for your family.”

After Chen Zuozu left, Lu Qingshu sneered, ”And how exactly are you going to get that justice? The Heavenly Sword Division is short on manpower right now. Unless you and I join forces and bring along two more, we can’t guarantee anything. With a Loose Immortal of the Chen Clan dead, that old ancestor of theirs probably won’t let this go. For now, the Heavenly Sword Division still needs the support of these smaller families and sects to establish a stable foothold here.”

Li Changsheng replied calmly, ”Just make a trip to Yunlu City.”

Lu Qingshu’s eyes lit up. ”You want Zhao Yunlu to make a move? That could work. But if we do that, the spiritual treasure on that kid—”

Li Changsheng chuckled. ”Still thinking about that treasure? It’s already back with Xun Guozhu.”

Lu Qingshu looked a bit surprised. Then he silently turned and walked away.

”All of this... is only just beginning, huh?” Li Changsheng muttered, repeating the words brought back by Chen Zuozu.

***

Fang Chen arrived at the location Sun Maotian had given him. He passed through several layers of formations and did indeed find an underground palace.

The underground palace was planted with many spiritual herbs, and spiritual energy surged continuously from beneath the ground. It was certain that a spiritual vein was underneath. If not for the outer formations sealing off the energy here, that single spiritual vein alone would have attracted countless cultivators with greedy eyes. It was likely one of the Sun Family’s backup sanctuaries, though not a core one.

Within this underground palace, Fang Chen found only fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones, a hundred high-grade ones, and three Immortal Crystals. The spiritual herbs were still immature, indicating this palace had been built sometime in the last few years to shelter the Sun Family in times of crisis.

”This place wouldn’t be bad for secluded cultivation,” Fang Chen remarked.

Then he vanished.

When he reappeared, he pulled out the gourd that Wang Chongsong had left behind. He gave the gourd a gentle shake, and a figure flew out from within.

Fang Chen smiled. ”You’ve gained the Four Stage Profound Yang Body and need a place to cultivate. What do you think of this place?”

”It’s good. It’s protected by formations on the outside and rich in spiritual energy within. But I’ll need that coffin,” the figure replied, returning the smile. ”Honestly, it always feels like we’re talking to ourselves. Maybe... We should speak less from now on.”

Their thoughts were connected, so whenever they spoke, it was like they were talking to themselves rather than to the other person. It was an odd sensation.

Fang Chen nodded. ”Fair enough.”

He took out the coffin in question, and upon opening it, he found the Candle Dragon sleeping soundly inside. Despite feeling a little displeased at being awoken, the Candle Dragon obediently gave up the coffin and returned to Fang Chen’s body.

Fang Chen left behind some high-grade spirit stones to aid the figure’s cultivation, then he walked the Path of Yin and departed.

In the days that followed, he traveled to many places, distributing his remaining high-grade spirit stones evenly among his other split souls.

With his true body, Fang Chen could cultivate simply by consuming spiritual energy. However, these split souls couldn’t do that; they needed spirit stones to advance. Each split soul received a dozen or so high-grade spirit stones, which were more than enough for their current stage in the Split Soul Realm.

One of the split souls was refining the Frost Water Immortal Flame. Once the flame was successfully refined, the first step of the Heavenly Supreme Pill Technique would be complete. Fang Chen had no idea what changes would follow. Only time would tell once the task was accomplished.

***

After he was done distributing the spirit stones, Fang Chen returned to the Central Continent. The moment he got there, he received news that Wang Zhenlong had successfully transcended his tribulation and ascended, becoming an Immortal King.

The Void Immortal Sword Sect once again had an Immortal King sword cultivator guarding it, prompting congratulations from all over. The sect was going to hold a grand banquet to celebrate.

As the Sword Chief, Fang Chen was naturally expected to attend, so the Desolate Academy and the Three Thousand Dao Sect were both notified to help locate him.

Within the Sect Master’s Hall in the Void Immortal Sword Sect, Wang Chongsong stood with his hands behind his back. Behind him stood Zhang Ling and the other peak masters.

Everyone’s expressions were filled with excitement. With Wang Zhenlong’s breakthrough, the Void Immortal Sword Sect now had an Immortal King swordsman again. Their crisis had been overturned.

Wang Zhenlong swept his gaze across the room and said indifferently, ”Bai Qingming fell in Prison Wind Lands this time, and Li Changsheng played a big part in it. Remember this: from now on, if you encounter any sword cultivator from the Kunlun Sword Sect, draw your sword and challenge them. Fight them to the death.”

Everyone’s gaze turned sharp, and they exchanged glances before nodding resolutely.

Even if the incident with Bai Qingming hadn’t occurred, there was too much enmity between the Void Immortal Sword Sect and the Kunlun Sword Sect for it to be resolved with a few words. If members of the two sects were to encounter each other, there would undoubtedly be a sword questioning.

Wang Chongsong cupped his hands and asked, ”Father, what about that boy, Fang Chen?”

”Can you turn around and talk to your father properly?” Wang Zhenlong snorted coldly. ”Always picking up bad habits instead of the good ones.”

Everyone was stunned. Wang Chongsong was already facing Wang Zhenlong, which meant he was currently facing away from everyone else. If he were to turn around, then where would he be facing?

They could faintly see a partial side profile of Wang Chongsong’s face. For a moment, they found themselves oddly impressed. This move was... pointless, but undeniably mysterious.

Wang Chongsong said seriously, ”Father, I’m following in the path of the Old Sword Immortal. If I can walk it to the end, our Void Immortal Sword Sect will surely gain another Sword Immortal in the future.”

He paused, preparing to ask again about Fang Chen. However, he noticed Wang Zhenlong looking outside the hall with a faint smile forming on his face.

Wang Zhenlong stated, ”Fang Chen has successfully passed through his calamity.”

”Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations?”

Everyone froze for a moment. Then they realized that Fang Chen had already passed his first calamity, and the second would come during the Enlightenment Realm...

Someone inhaled sharply.

He’s already facing the second calamity? Didn’t that mean the Soul Splitting Realm is just around the corner? But hadn’t he only recently advanced to the Enlightenment Realm? His cultivation advanced so rapidly, yet he hadn’t gone mad from instability... How is that possible?

Sensing a shift in the surroundings, Wang Chongsong turned to look.

A figure walked calmly into the great hall, cupping his fists toward Wang Zhenlong and bowing deeply. ”I, Disciple Fang Chen, congratulate Master on ascending to an Immortal King!”