Immortal of the Nine Realms

Wang Chongsong remained calm.

Meanwhile, Fairy Yu wore a playful smirk and mocked Fang Chen, ”You stationed a Loose Immortal in Grand Xia and think that’s enough to sleep soundly at night? Since I understand you this well, isn’t it obvious that Wang Chongsong would have countermeasures?”

Wang Chongsong chuckled. ”Someone like you can’t be dealt with through common tricks. However, sending a protector to Grand Xia tells me one of your Loose Immortals isn’t at your side anymore.”

The others’ eyes flickered and turned again towards the Heaven Profound Mirror.

***

In Grand Xia, Xia Xuanji stood amidst the now-quiet skies, his expression uneasy. Just as he turned to return to the palace, layers of clouds began to ripple and part. Figures emerged from the mist, one after another. It was Lu Qingshu and seven or eight first transformation sword cultivators that radiated power equal to his.

Fully aware of the danger, the people of Grand Xia looked upward in alarm and outrage.

Watching from the Immortal Demon Sea, Qu Ge and the others wore complicated expressions.

”So many sword cultivators and Lu Qingshu... All of them at the first-transformation Loose Immortal Realm...”

The Spirit God Sect was indeed extraordinary. It was no simple feat to summon seven or eight Loose Immortals from powerful noble families. Furthermore, they did it just to crush a seemingly insignificant province with no cultivators at the Upper Three Realms.

Master Xia Xuanji’s expression darkened. ”There’s more of them?”

Outside the City God Temple, Qi Tianran was on high alert as he stared at the figures in the sky. ”There are seven or eight of them... Yin Monarch Shentu, it’s just the two of us. How can we possibly hold them back?”

Shentu Cang emerged from the depths of the Yellow Springs, his ghostly aura coiling around him as his eyes scanned the sky.

He stated, ”Our lord ordered us to guard this place. Since we’ve taken the mantle, we stand until death. Yin Monarch Qi, did you think the Underworld Official Division would rise again in the Underworld without sacrifice?”

Qi Tianran’s face twisted in dismay. ”That’s not what I meant. If we know we’ll lose, shouldn’t we be more cautious?”

Before Qi Tianran even finished talking, Shentu Cang soared into the sky, his dark aura stretching like shadows.

“Reckless brute!” Qi Tianran cursed under his breath and followed reluctantly, glaring at the sword cultivators.

***

The sudden arrival of the two stirred the scene like a stone cast into still waters. Xia Xuanji’s eyes flickered as something clicked in his mind. Without a word, he turned on his heel and returned to stand among the gathered ministers and officials.

Extending his hand, he asked for a cup of tea.

An eunuch swiftly stepped forward and presented a steaming cup. Xia Xuanji paid no heed to the scalding heat and finished the hot tea in one go.

“Your Majesty... Those two are...?”

Xia Xuanji’s breath slowly evened out. His low tone carried a weight that made hearts settle.

“They are likely masters summoned by Lord Fang.”

Lord Fang!?

The name sent a jolt through the court. The heavy dread hanging over the assembly seemed to lift a little as a glimmer of hope returned to their eyes.

***

High up in the sky, Lu Qingshu and his fellow sword cultivators noticed the two figures approaching.

Lu Qingshu smiled coldly and smirked, ”Two Loose Immortals? Is that all?”

”Are we here just to kill these two?” mocked a younger sword cultivator while scanning Shentu Cang and Qi Tianran.

The sword cultivators were confident they could defeat the two Loose Immortals even on their own, let alone when there were seven or eight of them present.

”They really thought we wouldn’t target this insignificant place. Only two Loose Immortals were sent? This is funny,” Lu Qingshu remarked with a laugh. He asked Shentu Cang, ”Where do you hail from? Maybe we’ll pay a visit after this.”

”If you’re serious about visiting, we’d welcome you,” replied Shentu Cang.

”Let’s just take him down,” commanded Lu Qingshu.

No one volunteered, and they began bickering amongst themselves.

”You do it. I’ve no interest in these two.”

”You’re the newest first-transformation sword cultivator. Treat this as a trial.”

”Exactly. Go.”

Eventually, a young sword cultivator was pushed forward. He sighed and raised his sword. ”Come, both of you. Let’s get this over with.”

Shentu Cang’s face darkened. He’d never been so openly mocked in his life, aside from the one time he faced Fang Chen.

Qi Tianran tried to de-escalate the situation. ”Everyone, surely we can talk this through. There’s no need to fight to the death.”

The others stared at him like he was an idiot.

”If you’re not fighting, you’d better leave. Though I doubt you can explain that to our lord,” said Shentu Cang coldly.

Qi Tianran gritted his teeth and pointed at the challenger. ”Watch your tone, boy. If you want to fight, then face me one-on-one! You’re too arrogant to think of defeating us both alone!”

With a yell, he struck first and summoned a flood of Yin qi. Shentu Cang followed, unleashing a deadly attack.

The young sword cultivator sneered. With a casual swing of his sword, he shattered their combined assault with overwhelming force.

“Both of them are struggling,” muttered Master Xia Xuanji, watching from below.

Lu Qingshu and his companions smiled. They’d already gauged the enemy’s strength. A first transformation cultivator couldn’t match even one of their group.

Within moments, the battle reached its hundredth exchange of blows.

Qi Tianran was weaker than Shentu Cang and suffered several sword wounds. He bled several wisps of Yin qi; each wound meant a cut into his lifespan.

Suddenly, from the void above, a massive dragon claw blotting out the sun descended from the heavens.

The young sword cultivator had no time to react. He was caught mid-swing and crushed into pulp. Several others met the same end; they were obliterated before they could react.

Only Lu Qingshu, who remained ever vigilant, transformed into a sword and fled the instant the claw appeared.

Master Xia Xuanji dropped his teacup in shock.

Shentu Cang and Qi Tianran were stunned.

Was the attack from a second-transformation Loose Immortal?

***

Back at Immortal Demon Sea, silence hung in the air. Cold sweat streamed from Xu Qingsong’s back. Now he fully believed what Yan Haoran and the others had told him.

Even Fairy Yu frowned slightly. She hadn’t expected Fang Chen to have such a trump card.

Wang Chongsong stared at the Heaven Profound Mirror quietly.

Fang Chen’s calm voice broke the silence. ”Well, Wang Chongsong, do you still have more tricks?”

Wang Chongsong replied, ”The one who struck must have been the Old Flood Dragon of Longyuan. I hadn’t expected him to side with you. However, his heavenly tribulation is near so he can’t attack for long.”

Old Flood Dragon?

Everyone from Chaotic Star paled at the name. Awe and dread flickered in their eyes.