Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Fellow Daoist Chen, the only thing we’re certain of is that Tuxiong Star is located in the Ancient Desolate Realm. We want to access the distribution records of our sect within the Ancient Desolate Realm, but only ancient immortals at the seventh transformation or above have that level of authority.”

”Seventh tier or higher....” Chen Lingding gave a bitter smile. ”We can’t even approach someone of that level. Looks like we’ll have to probe around slowly. If the Lesser Underworld were still like it used to be, maybe we’d be able to get useful intel before long.”

”There’s another possibility... I heard that this person has captured many of our sect’s cultivators. They’re all being held in the Lesser Underworld now. If we send someone to make contact, maybe we can...?”

”To contact them, we’d have to send someone with an official rank. If their status is too low, they won’t get close at all. And we’re already short on people. If the other party realizes this and sends someone to monitor us from the shadows, wouldn’t we be losing troops for nothing?” replied Chen Lingding.

He shook his head. ”There’s no need for that right now. That Fang guy still can’t threaten our foundation. As long as we slow things down and keep a low profile for a few years, our people in the Lesser Underworld can still pass on messages. They won’t be completely wiped out.”

Fang Chen nodded. Chen Lingding was at least cautious and prudent. What the man didn’t know was that he had mastered the Shadow Buddha Technique, something even the heavens loathed.

Now, at the very least, he knew there were still quite a few high-ranking members of the Spirit God Sect within the Lesser Underworld.

More than that, he’d uncovered a new piece of information—the Killing Spiritual Division had influence in the Floating Pagoda Realm.

It seemed the conflict between them and the Spirit God Sect wasn’t just limited to the Mortal Realm. The Floating Pagoda Realm was also one of their battlegrounds.

In the Mortal Realm, he might be as insignificant as an ant caught between these two giants. But in the Underworld, it was a different story. Whether in the Greater Underworld or the Lesser Underworld, he had the upper hand. This was his battlefield.

”This Chen Lingding... is a Yin Demon. A pure Yin Demon, not a Yin Walker,” Fang Chen mused.

Since he was a Yin Demon, it meant he had cultivated step by step in this realm to reach his current cultivation at the first transformation.

Strangely, the group he kept around him were all Yin Walkers, members of the Spirit God Sect, yet they seemed to follow Chen Lingding’s lead. This suggested that Chen Lingding’s identity within the sect might not be so simple.

”Right, when you return, tell my father to get in touch with a few formation masters, those proficient in the Starry Teleportation Formation.” Chen Lingding gave the order. ”They may have heard of Tuxiong Star. If we can locate that place, we can engage Monarch Fang in the Mortal Realm.”

”Then we’ll see whether this man truly belongs to the Killing Spiritual Division or some other force. To transform the Lesser Underworld in such a short time... His methods are extraordinary. I want to meet him.”

”Understood.”

The others nodded and left one after another.

A pensive look appeared on Chen Lingding’s face. He muttered, ”Something’s wrong... Liu Xuan’s aura just now felt different from before...”

He began pacing inside the meditation chamber, trying to pinpoint the discrepancy.

”What exactly is off...?”

He pondered for a long while but found no clear answer. But he trusted his instincts, so he left the teahouse and followed in the direction Liu Xuan had departed.

Liu Xuan arrived at a breach in the Floating Pagoda Realm, intending to return to the Lesser Underworld. Suddenly, he sensed a surge of terrifying yin energy behind him.

”Wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Liu.”

In the blink of an eye, Chen Lingding appeared before him.

Liu Xuan looked stunned. ”What are you doing? Aren’t you worried about being seen?”

Chen Lingding didn’t respond. He just stared hard at Liu Xuan, then said abruptly, ”Recently, I heard rumors that Monarch Yan’s legacy has surfaced, and someone got to it first.”

”Monarch Yan’s legacy?” Liu Xuan looked confused. ”Isn’t that just nonsense? How come I haven’t heard of it?”

”It’s only been circulating in small circles. A few years back, people still brought it up now and then. But lately, most, like you, think it’s baseless. Still... the changes in the Lesser Underworld might have something to do with it.”

”Has Monarch Fang of yours ever mentioned Jiangguang City in the Floating Pagoda Realm?” Chen Lingding asked flatly.

His eyes scanned Liu Xuan’s face for a reaction.

”Jiangguang City?”

Liu Xuan looked genuinely blank.

”You don’t know? A while back, I had people test the waters in Jiangguang City, but nothing came of it. I didn’t want to stir up trouble and alert the enemy.

”How about this. You go to Jiangguang City for me and meet the city’s lord. I think she’s called... Empress Ci or something?”

Chen Lingding smiled. ”Just reveal your identity as a Registrar of the Underworld Official Division. See how she reacts to you.”

Liu Xuan’s expression darkened. He immediately declined, ”I only helped you place a few agents. I’m not one of your subordinates. Why should I go probing like that? Just send some Yin Demons.”

”Aren’t you curious if your Monarch Fang has any connection to the rumored Monarch Yan legacy?” Chen Lingding said with a faint smile. ”This concerns your own safety, too. If you manage to find a lead in Jiangguang City, I’ll allow you to stay at Dangyin Mountain. You won’t have to return and take further risks. Isn’t that what you want?”

”Well...” Liu Xuan gave a bitter smile. ”I’d have to ask Monarch Fang’s opinion. If he disapproves, I won’t be able to agree to anything.”

Chen Lingding’s smile stiffened. ”He’s here?”

”I am,” came a voice from behind him.

Instantly, Chen Lingding’s yin energy surged in a frenzy, but the next moment, an even more terrifying force pressed it down violently. He dropped to the ground as if a mountain had landed on his back.

”Monarch Fang, this is the Yin Lifespan Coins he gave me,” Liu Xuan quickly took out a jade box and offered it to Fang Chen.

”If he gave it to you, then keep it,” Fang Chen said blandly, not taking the box.

Liu Xuan looked pleasantly surprised but dared not accept it outright. He just stood stiffly, holding the box, looking unsure of what to do.

In his mind, Chen Lingding’s earlier words, ”Monarch Yan’s legacy,” echoed endlessly.

Those four words seemed to tie together everything he hadn’t understood, suddenly clarifying a great many doubts.

Chen Lingding was pinned to the ground by the crushing yin aura, completely immobilized. He couldn’t even turn his head to look at Fang Chen. ”You... you’re Monarch Fang?”

Shame welled up within him. The man hadn’t appeared by coincidence. His sudden arrival likely meant every move Chen had made had already been under surveillance.

How...? Is there a traitor among my ranks? But who?! Who could it be?!

Chen Lingding’s mind raced. Just as he was about to speak and stall for time, he suddenly sensed a strange force invading his body.

His own energy violently surged to resist the invading force.

The decree that Fang Chen had sent into Chen Lingding could not fuse with him due to the resistance. This was precisely why Fang Chen hadn’t acted earlier at Dangyin Mountain.

”You only have one path now. I’ll count to three. If you’re still resisting by then, I’ll send you on your way myself.”

”What exactly do you want?!” Chen Lingding growled.