Immortal of the Nine Realms

As Xu Qingsong and the others listened to the exchange before them, they came to a realization. Swordmaster Fang Chen had been targeted for a long time, and he had just fallen into a carefully laid trap.

The cultivators of the Great Expansion Dao Sect exchanged mocking glances as they relished the scene unfolding before them.

One of them sneered, ”Hah. Even Fang Chen has met his match.”

Another said, ”Excellent. No need for us to lift a finger or offend the Desolate Academy or the Void Immortal Sword Sect.”

A chill rose from within Xu Qingsong. He had thought of himself as the bait, but it turned out he was nothing more than a spectator. If his understanding of Fang Chen was accurate and he truly possessed the talent that Yan Haoran and the others claimed, then it was all but inevitable that Fang Chen would one day advance to a First-Rate Sect Leader. However, he had just been mercilessly betrayed and cornered by the woman he loved.

”Pitiful...” murmured Xu Qingsong, his gaze tinged with complexity.

”You’ve acted well these past days—so well that I truly believed the Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo was gone, and that you really were my Little Yu,” lamented Fang Chen.

”Oh? Don’t tell me you saw through my act all along? I doubt so. I could feel that your emotions were genuine,” teased Fairy Yu.

”They were for Little Yu. Not for you.”

”You’re as stubborn as a bull.”

With a soft laugh, Fairy Yu turned to Wang Chongsong and said, ”If you’ve got more tricks up your sleeve, hurry up. I’m almost done enjoying the show.”

”Fang Chen, are those Loose Immortals who aided you before present now?” asked Wang Chongsong carefully.

”So what if I said yes? Would that send you running?” questioned Fang Chen.

”Before we went out to sea, he went to the underworld once, so he’s probably made arrangements to get some help. If I had to guess, those who helped him might be Great Yin Demons,” interjected Fairy Yu. After a pause, she added, ”Keep your eye on Xing Jintuo. He wields some unusual power...”

Wang Chongsong nodded thoughtfully and said earnestly, ”Truth be told, we’re not here to kill you. At least not now. We simply hope you’ll stay out of our affairs. Heavenly Demon, Flying Star, and Holy Puppet have already begun their movements. Oh, and the place you care about most? I’ve sent someone there as well. If you manage to survive a few more years, you might just live to see how Tuxiong Star changes.”

Fang Chen’s gaze sharpened. ”You mean Grand Xia?”

”No one in this world knows you better than I do. I know what you care about and what you don’t. As the saying goes, ’Know thy enemy and know thyself.’ You’re dying to know what’s happening there, right? Sadly, you’re stuck here. Maybe I’ll go take a look for you,” taunted Fairy Yu.

High above in the void, Nie Yunqian’s expression grew solemn at the mention of Great Yin Demons. She glanced at Fairy Yu and whispered to Yan Haoran, ”She has no idea what a Great Yin Demon truly is. Such beings cannot descend to the Mortal Realm, and even if they did, they can’t directly intervene.”

”That’s not necessarily true,” replied Yan Haoran calmly. ”How else do you explain the number of loose immortals willing to fight for Fang Chen? Perhaps he’s obtained some means to command a Great Yin Demon here in the Mortal Realm.”

Frowning, Nangong Yuanzhen asked, ”Didn’t you say the one who acted on his behalf was a cultivator of the Killing Spiritual Division?”

Yan Haoran smiled knowingly but said no more.

The gathered cultivators exchanged glances. Only now did they realise that Yan Haoran had kept mum about certain things.

Suddenly, Nangong Yuanzhen said, ”We can’t let him die so easily. There are some secrets within him that we need to uncover.”

Yan Haoran looked at him and stated calmly, ”That is a matter of concern for the Spirit God Sect. You’re one of us now, too. If we find anything of value, I’ll let you know.”

Nangong Yuanzhen’s face darkened, and he fell silent.

Wang Chongsong stepped forward and stood before Fang Chen. He requested, ”Please return the World Gourd to me. It is of little use in your possession.”

”Let me guess, did Little Yu tell you that? If I refuse, will you kill me? Hmm, that’ll be convenient. Death would be my escape!” exclaimed Fang Chen.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Chongsong summoned a Heaven Profound Mirror, which enlarged in the wind.

He said, ”Why don’t I show you what’s happening in Grand Xia right now?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the glowing mirror.

In the imperial capital of Grand Xia, a cultivator stood atop the clouds while holding aloft a Heaven Profound Mirror aimed at the heart of the city.

Above the clouds floated more than a hundred sword cultivators of considerable powers. Fang Chen recognised many of their faces as he had seen them in the Void Immortal Sword Sect before.

None of the sword cultivators hid their presence. Below, the people of the imperial capital dropped what they were doing and looked upwards. Many started whispering and pointing.

Within the palace, Master Xia Xuanji and his ministers also stared at the sky. One official stepped forward and asked, ”Master, shall I approach them and inquire about their intentions?”

”I’m sure this is yet another disaster brought upon us by Fang Chen,” said Xia Xuanji helplessly. He waved a hand to dismiss his offer. ”There’s no need. I’ll speak with them myself.”

Rising into the sky alone, he greeted the one hundred sword cultivators and bowed respectfully, ”I am Xia Xuanji of Grand Xia. Greetings, fellow Daoists.”

The sword cultivators nodded slightly as a form of acknowledgement.

Their leader glanced at the mirror and flashed Xia Xuanji a grin. ”We’ve come today on no pressing business.”

”Oh? Then you’re just passing through? Can I invite you over for tea?” suggested Xia Xuanji.

”No, thanks. It’s late into the night. We’ve simply come to send you on your way.”

The lead sword cultivator smiled and raised his hand, shooting a brilliant and deadly beam of sword light toward Xia Xuanji.

The other sword cultivators drew their swords as well. In an instant, deadly sword intent blanketed the skies above the capital. If those blades fell, the entire city would be reduced to ashes.

Xia Xuanji’s expression froze. With his current cultivation, he could not hope to stop even one of these attacks. He could only watch as death approached.

An old man stepped out of the recently rebuilt City God Temple. He gazed at the sky and casually waved his sleeve.

A gust of Yin wind swept through the air. Just like sand blown away by the wind, the one hundred sword cultivators vanished into nothing, and the sword intent that threatened to obliterate the capital dispersed.

One moment, the sky was dark with storm clouds. The next moment, it was clear and bathed in warm sunlight.

The people stared upward, bewildered. No one could make sense of what had just happened.

Back at the Immortal Demon Sea, the gathered cultivators watched in silence as the scene played out in the Heaven Profound Mirror. Their eyes were fixated on the image of the old man.

”A Loose immortal...” whispered Qu Ge.

The others exchanged looks.

”That’s what you wanted me to see?” challenged Fang Chen as he smiled faintly at Wang Chongsong.