Immortal of the Nine Realms

Nie Changkong forced a smile and said, ”Young Mountain Lord, your proposal is still under consideration. Give me a little more time, and I’ll respond.”

The Young Mountain Lord’s expression darkened at once. He coldly replied, ”I’ve already given you years. What’s there left to consider? Since we’ve met today by chance, let’s stop beating around the bush. Even if it’s a refusal, I won’t hold it against you.”

Nie Yunqian’s expression turned serious. She asked, ”Father, what proposal is he talking about?”

The Young Mountain Lord’s gaze turned toward Nie Yunqian, looking at her with a warm, sincere look. There was apparent disappointment in his eyes. ”Oh? He hasn’t even told you? I wish to take you as my ghost consort. Although you’re a ghost cultivator, you have good potential. You are worthy enough to be my woman. What do you say?”

Nie Yunqian froze slightly.

So this man had set his sights on her. No wonder Nie Changkong had warned her some time ago to reduce her excursions through the Underworld, and if she had to go, to avoid Dangyin Mountain at all costs.

So that’s the reason, she thought.

Most Yin Holy Sect cultivators operated within Dangyin Mountain and knew the Young Mountain Lord’s temperament. Whoever caught his eye, man or woman, never left his grasp if they remained within his territory.

Many female ghost cultivators from other regions had eventually become his women.

Nie Yunqian’s expression gradually darkened. She stood silently beside Fang Chen, saying nothing.

”Nie Yunqian, why won’t you answer me?” asked the Young Mountain Lord, smiling faintly.

His eyes swept casually across Fang Chen. He had already noticed that Fang Chen’s aura was unlike that of an ordinary Yin Demon.

The Young Mountain Lord’s smile widened. ”And this guy... Is he from your Yin Holy Sect as well? I don’t recall ever seeing him. You two seem rather close. Could it be you’re already Dao companions?”

Nie Changkong and Su Ze exchanged a brief glance before turning to look at Fang Chen.

”If he can’t even handle Dangyin Mountain, then perhaps the decree he gave Yunqian is flawed. It might not be a true path to Ghost Gods,” Su Ze transmitted telepathically.

Nie Changkong said nothing.

His silence only served to confirm the Young Mountain Lord’s suspicions.

With a smirk, Young Mountain Lord turned to Fang Chen and said, ”Nie Yunqian can be your Dao companion in the mortal world, and my ghost consort in the Underworld. The two don’t conflict. What do you think?”

A few seconds of silence passed before Fang Chen responded, ”You’re quite the creative one.”

The Young Mountain Lord’s gaze sharpened, turning cold. ”So, you’re unwilling? Aren’t you afraid the Yin Holy Sect will have no place in the Floating Pagoda Realm in the future? Venturing into the Underworld is your sect’s entire foundation.”

”Oh? And since when does your Dangyin Mountain govern matters in the Lesser Underworld?” Fang Chen asked in surprise.

The Young Mountain Lord paused. The Lesser Underworld?

After a pause, he chuckled and replied, ”Maybe not officially, but connections go both ways. While we can’t enter the Lesser Underworld, those from there can certainly come to Dangyin Mountain, just like how you cultivators descended from the mortal world, didn’t you?”

Empress Ci had once mentioned that this man had contacts in the Lesser Underworld. Whether or not the Young Mountain Lord was bluffing, Fang Chen now assumed he indeed had sources of information.

This matter needed to be addressed along with the Spirit God Sect’s purge.

There were gaps between the realms that needed sealing. If the bridges to the Floating Pagoda Realm were cut, then complete isolation would be possible.

”Young Mountain Lord, I heard that the situation in the Lesser Underworld has recently changed. What’s your take on that?” Fang Chen asked.

Nie Changkong suddenly interjected, saying, ”Indeed, many of our Yin Holy Sect cultivators have been restricted in their movements there. Do you have a solution?”

”Have you heard of Liu Xuan, the Left Registrar of the Underworld Official Division in the Lesser Underworld?” the Young Mountain Lord asked with a chuckle.

”When we’re family, if your Yin Holy Sect encounters trouble, just go find Liu Xuan. Say I sent you. He’ll handle things.”

Nie Changkong was visibly shocked when he heard the name, and he exchanged a glance with Su Ze. ”Liu Xuan of the Underworld Official Division?”

Liu Xuan’s cultivation in the Mortal Realm only equaled that of an Immortal King, but in the Lesser Underworld, that was already peak combat power. More importantly, he held a prominent official title and wielded real authority.

The Underworld Official Division had recently risen from decline to dominance. Now it was flourishing, more powerful than ever!

As Left Registrar, Liu Xuan had significant power. If they could build ties with him, the Yin Holy Sect’s cultivators wouldn’t be limited to minor cities. They could expand to larger ones, perhaps even gain footing in the capital.

”Liu Xuan...” Fang Chen mused.

Du Yunxu had already investigated and found something suspicious about him. He hadn’t expected Liu Xuan to be linked to Dangyin Mountain.

”So? This concerns the future of your sect. I’m in a hurry to head to Jiangguang City and don’t have time to waste. Give me your answer,” said the Young Mountain Lord flatly.

The giant bird beneath him seemed irritated as well, spewing thick black mist from its mouth. Within the mist, countless twisted faces howled in anguish.

Su Ze and the others were visibly alarmed.

How many Yin Demons had the bird devoured?

They even suspected the bird had once been human, transformed into this grotesque form by consuming too many Yin Demons.

”What are you going to Jiangguang City for?” Fang Chen asked.

The Young Mountain Lord stared at Fang Chen for a moment before laughing. ”Why? You think that’s your business?”

He paused for a moment before saying, ”I’ve changed my mind. I want both of you as my ghost consorts.”

Pointing at Nie Yunqian and Fang Chen, he sneered. ”A pair of Dao companions serving me together... Doesn’t that sound delightful?”

Nie Changkong and the others turned pale with horror.

”That’s... just disgusting,” Fang Chen muttered.

At that moment, twin Candle Dragons emerged beneath his feet. His azure robe transformed into Monarch Yan’s Battle Armor. Twin dragon heads protruded from his chest and shoulders.

In an instant, the terrifying spiritual pressure radiating from Fang Chen forced Nie Changkong and the others to retreat repeatedly.

Above them, all the Yin Demons were struck with fear. Even the giant carriage bird fell silent, shutting its mouth and ceasing its breath of black mist.

A flash of sword light swept through the air.

The bird and the Young Mountain Lord were severed in half. Their Yin energy rapidly dispersed, merging back into the heavens and earth.

The residual sword energy surged outward like a crashing wave.

Over a thousand Yin Demon subordinates were annihilated in its wake.

In an instant, the Young Mountain Lord’s entire party was completely wiped out.

Dead beyond reincarnation. Returned to the void.

Nie Changkong and Su Ze exchanged a glance, shaken. They looked at Fang Chen with awe.

Fang Chen had already returned to his previous calm appearance, and no trace of the earlier fury remained. However, that brief moment had frightened the two of them senseless.

The Young Mountain Lord’s strength was not inferior to theirs. Yet he had been slain with a single sword strike!

Could this man be a third transformation Ghost God?

”Gentlemen, are you not here in pursuit of the oath of Ghost Gods?” Fang Chen asked, getting straight to the point.