Immortal of the Nine Realms

The group of sword cultivators made no attempt to conceal themselves; they appeared completely unbothered and forthright. They were all cultivators in the Upper Three Realms, including two first-transformation Sword Cultivators and one at the second transformation.

Among them, one of the first transformation Sword Cultivators was someone Fang Chen had seen before on the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. He was none other than Zhu Yunchen, Palace Master of the Sword Burial Palace.

The Corrosive Dragon King cupped his hands toward the group of sword cultivators. ”Fellow comrades, those rats probably won’t show their faces again. I ask that you now strike and deal with these human cultivators here.”

The second-transformation Sword Cultivator sneered. ”Who’s your comrade? We’re just here because we were paid.”

The Corrosive Dragon King didn’t mind. Though he could see the disdain in their eyes, he took no offense.

A Profound Immortal cultivator cried out in fury, ”Corrosive Dragon King! You were ordered by the emperor to guard the Northern Heavenly Gate! Why are you conspiring with outsiders!?”

Most others stayed silent. From these sword cultivators, they could sense the chilling breath of death.

”There are... several Immortal King-level sword cultivators among them. Since when did the Central Continent have this many? Are they from the Void Immortal Sword Sect?”

”Other than the Void Immortal Sword Sect, no other sword sect in the Central Continent Empire likely has this kind of power.”

”No, wait... maybe the Kunlun Sword Sect? They must be hoping the Central Continent Empire descends into chaos, so they can profit from it!”

Speculations flew, but everyone knew such guesses were meaningless now. The Corrosive Dragon King had clearly turned traitor. Even without these sword cultivators, just he and his two guest cultivators could slaughter every human cultivator present with ease.

”Corrosive Dragon King... why would you betray your masters and defect to Tianyao? These sword cultivators, they—”

”You’re right, we are from the Void Immortal Sword Sect,” the second-transformation sword cultivator said with a calm smile.

”Li Wuwang has arrived,” Fang Chen said with a smile to Qiu Jing and Kong Jin. ”They’re trying to force me to appear. Li Wuwang is probably hiding somewhere nearby.”

”Should we summon the old flood dragon?” Qiu Jing asked solemnly.

”If Li Wuwang dared to come stake me out, then someone must’ve gone to confront the old flood dragon already,” Fang Chen replied with a smile.

***

In Grand Xia, the bustling streets were filled with vendors selling various snacks.

An old man bought a skewer of candied hawthorn and took a gentle bite, then sat down at a nearby teahouse with a cheerful smile.

An elderly man at another table glanced over indifferently and said, ”Zhao Yunlu, you’re not young anymore. Why are you still eating stuff like that?”

Zhao Yunlu chuckled. ”You’re not exactly young yourself, Old Flood Dragon. You still meddle in the affairs of juniors, I see. Me eating a skewer of candied fruit isn’t so outrageous, is it?”

”You came here. Aren’t you afraid I’ll eat you alive?” said the old flood dragon flatly.

Zhao Yunlu shook his head with a grin. ”Old Flood Dragon, you’ve been hiding all these years just to avoid being struck down by heavenly tribulation. That last time you acted was likely already your limit.”

”This time, I came only to chat, at the request of Fellow Daoist Li. I have no ill intentions.”

”How do you know that last time was my limit? What if you’re wrong? Showing up here today might just get you killed,” countered the old flood dragon.

”Wrong? Are you saying you quietly overcame the tribulation and stepped into the fourth transformation?” Zhao Yunlu replied calmly. ”Even if you had immortal pills, you couldn’t have passed the heavenly tribulation unnoticed.”

”At best, we’re both third transformation cultivators. You can’t defeat me in just a couple of moves. So don’t bother trying to intimidate me.”

Zhao Yunlu spoke with full confidence, even a hint of pride. After all, being able to sit in the same room and speak on equal footing with the number-one powerhouse of Longyuan was no small feat.

Now that he had reached the third transformation, he no longer needed to stay confined to Yunlu City. He had the qualifications to influence events across the entire Chaotic Star.

The Old Flood Dragon let out a quiet sigh and said nothing more.

To Zhao Yunlu, this was a sign of weakness.

”Old Flood Dragon, you’ve already done your part for that boy out of respect for the Long Clan. It was noble of you. Why risk yourself any further?”

”Better to return and hold your ground in Longyuan. As long as you live, some people won’t dare push too far. If you go down with your enemy, it wouldn’t be worth it,” Zhao Yunlu advised.

The old flood dragon had wanted to act several times, but remembering Fang Chen’s instructions, he held himself back. He could only sneer and say, ”I won’t attack because you’re not worth it. You’re just a measly third-transformation Loose Immortal.”

Zhao Yunlu couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head. He didn’t say anything else. So long as the Old Flood Dragon didn’t act, Zhao Yunlu would be able to complete his mission.

”Tell me, are you a Spirit God Sect member? Or did Li Wuwang promise you something?” asked the old flood dragon.

”No promises. Just a commitment,” Zhao Yunlu replied with a faint smile.

”A commitment?”

The Old Flood Dragon nodded. What kind of promise could make a third-transformation Loose Immortal act so willingly?

It could only be... Immortal pills.

***

The demonic cultivators of Tianyao had already crossed the mountains. The human cultivators were caught in a dilemma. Advancing or retreating were both perilous.

Ahead stood the demon cultivators and the Corrosive Dragon King’s forces.

Behind them were sword cultivators suspected to be from the Void Immortal Sword Sect. Among these sword cultivators were several whose cultivation levels the humans couldn’t discern, indicating they were at least Immortal Kings.

”Your Highness, with the old flood dragon’s strength, could he finish off that third-transformation cultivator and come support us?” Qiu Jing asked, concerned.

”He won’t act,” Fang Chen said.

Both men looked surprised.

”Why not?”

”Because I asked him not to.” Fang Chen said flatly. ”The old flood dragon has more important tasks. There’s no need to expose his cultivation and risk suspicion. The enemy doesn’t dare make a move either. They’re only trying to tie him down.”

Qiu Jing looked conflicted. ”What about this battlefield...?”

If they just left, they’d have nothing to do with the outcome of this battle.

No matter how intense the fight got, it wouldn’t affect the Underworld at all. In fact, they might even benefit, harvesting a batch of experienced souls.

”I underestimated Li Wuwang. The head and deputy heads of the Heavenly Sword Division wouldn’t show themselves at the same time, but I didn’t expect him to send Zhao Yunlu,” said Fang Chen, chuckling. ”Come on, let’s go meet him.”

The two exchanged glances and nodded.

After all, they were in a position of absolute advantage. If things went badly, they could retreat into the Underworld. There was no real danger.

”If you’re going to kill us, then do it already. What are you waiting for? The Desolate Sect and the Central Continent Empire will surely notice the disturbance here. When that happens, you’ll be dragged down with us,” an aged Profound Immortal said calmly.

Fang Chen approached the old expert, flanked by Qiu Jing and Kong Jin, and asked casually, ”What sect or clan do you come from?”

Corrosive Dragon King and his allies all smiled faintly at Fang Chen’s appearance. After all, they’d been holding the stalemate just to draw him out.

. ”Me? I had the honor of serving for a time under the Immortal Peak King. I have no sect affiliation, but I still have pride. I’m not like Corrosive Dragon King, who betrayed the Central Continent despite all the favor it showed him.”

The old expert glared at Corrosive Dragon King with a gaze sharp enough to strip flesh from bone.

”Fang Chen, I almost thought you wouldn’t show yourself. I’m curious... What precious treasure are you carrying that made the Heavenly Sword Division set you up like this?” Corrosive Dragon King asked, his tone filled with interest.