Immortal of the Nine Realms

The bearded sword cultivator was stunned. ”Qin Hucheng, didn’t you die?”

He quickly stepped forward to scrutinize Qin Hucheng from head to toe. He even pinched Qin Hucheng’s arm.

Feels real... thought the bearded sword cultivator.

Although Qin Hucheng’s skin felt a little cold, it felt real.

”Could someone be impersonating Senior Brother Qin?”

”Senior Brother Qin’s soul lamp... did indeed go out back then.”

Wang Zhenlong fixed his gaze on Qin Hucheng for a moment, then suddenly asked, ”Who brought you into the sword sect originally?”

Qin Hucheng replied, ”It was the sect master.”

Jing Yuehan and the others exchanged surprised looks.

”Senior Brother Qin was personally brought into the sect by the Sect Master?”

They were much younger than Qin Hucheng, so they didn’t know the details of him joining the sect.

Wang Zhenlong nodded toward the group. ”It is Qin Hucheng.”

Wang Zhelong then gave Fang Chen a brief glance before turning his attention back on Qin Hucheng. He said, ”Speak. Tell us what you know.”

Qin Hucheng’s tone was calm as he shared, ”I was originally from Prison Wind Lands. When I was being hunted by enemies, I was saved by Senior Li Wuwang, the head of the Heavenly Sword Division, who sent me here and handed me over to the sect master. Since then, I have been both a Sword Sect cultivator and a Spirit God Sect cultivator.”

A peak master shouted angrily, ”You’re talking nonsense!”

Qin Hucheng ignored the objections and continued, ”Many years ago, the sect master gave me something called the Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo and told me to find an opportunity to implant it into Junior Sister Yu. With my cultivation at the time, I couldn’t perform the technique alone, so I cast it together with the peak master and successfully planted it inside Junior Sister Yu.”

Everyone instinctively looked toward Zhang Ling. ”Peak master?!”

Jing Yuehan stared at Qin Hucheng in disbelief. Did he realize how much turmoil these words would cause within the Sword Sect?

Zhang Ling looked at Qin Hucheng with deep disappointment. ”You’ve truly let me down.”

”Peak Master, Junior Brother Fang’s methods far exceed your imagination. He has the power to influence the status of sword cultivators in Prison Wind Lands,” Qin Hucheng said seriously. ”Not long ago, I saw Senior Li Wuwang get wounded by a single sword from Junior Brother Fang. You and I joined the Spirit God Sect precisely to change the fate of sword cultivators in Prison Wind Lands. What I say today is only because I don’t want the hard-earned situation held by the Heavenly Sword Division to be overturned so easily.”

Zhang Ling suddenly stepped back several paces, her eyes filled with suspicion and disbelief as she looked at Fang Chen. ”That’s impossible!”

How could this junior possibly have injured Li Wuwang?!

Coming from the Heavenly Sword Division, Li Wuwang had long been an undefeated legend in her mind. He was a saint destined to save sword cultivators in Prison Wind Lands and bring them justice!

How could such such a saint be wounded by a mere junior?

But she knew Qin Hucheng’s nature very well. She always understood that in Qin Hucheng’s eyes, the Spirit God Sect was nothing; only when it involved the Heavenly Sword Division would Qin Hucheng make such a choice.

Qin Hucheng stared at Zhang Ling without blinking.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Zhang Ling, whose expression was a storm of shifting emotions.

Soon, they began to understand the situation, and their faces grew grimmer.

”I am indeed a Spirit God Sect cultivator, along with Qin Hucheng.”

Zhang Ling looked at Wang Zhenlong and cupped her hands. ”The Sect Master once told me that if his soul lamp went out, I was to deliver the message that he died by Fang Chen’s hand. Whether or not it was true, this dirty trick must be pinned on him.”

Wang Zhenlong stared at Zhang Ling for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes, and for an instant, tears seemed to glimmer in them.

”But, but why...” stammered the big-bearded sword cultivator, trying to find some flaw in what Qin Hucheng and Zhang Ling said. Suddenly, his eyes brightened. ”The Spirit God Sect! We are talking about the Spirit Blood Sect. What does that have to do with this Spirit God Sect?!”

Zhang Ling glanced at him. ”Outside, the Spirit Blood Sect is actually known as the Spirit God Sect. Spirit God Sect cultivators are everywhere, often changing their names.”

Someone said in a deep voice, ”If you are Spirit God Sect cultivators, why did you betray the Spirit God Sect so easily? We could also think you have some leverage that Fang Chen holds over you, using it to smear the sect master’s name. Who exactly is this Li Wuwang you mentioned?”

”It’s better if you don’t know some things,” said Zhang Ling.

She looked at Fang Chen. ”Anyway, we’ve come this far. How do you intend to deal with me?”

”The reason the Heavenly Sword Division arranged so many people in the Void Immortal Sword Sect is probably because of the old sword immortal.” Fang Chen smiled. ”If there are any more Heavenly Sword Division people among you, just point them out.”

Zhang Ling’s brows furrowed.

***

Several hours later, more than a hundred figures had appeared inside the Sect Master’s Hall. Almost all were outstanding elites from various peaks. Even those not particularly brilliant wouldn’t be much weaker than Qin Hucheng.

The weakest among them was at the Enlightenment Realm. Their expressions were cold and stern, their eyes filled with hostility toward Fang Chen.

The big-bearded sword cultivator and others looked at each other in disbelief, never expecting so many spies to have been planted among them. The words Heavenly Sword Division were deeply engraved in their minds.

Fang Chen said calmly, ”You may leave now. Li Wuwang should still have some soldiers here. Pass on a message for me. Cooperating with the Spirit God Sect isn’t as good as cooperating with me.”

Is that all? They could just leave?

Everyone was slightly stunned. They had thought their fate was sealed today, with no way out. Unexpectedly, the other party had no intention of taking their lives at all.

Qin Hucheng waved his hand. ”Everyone, leave quickly.”

Zhang Ling looked at Qin Hucheng and said, ”You’re coming with us.”

”I... can’t leave.” Qin Hucheng shook his head with a bitter smile. ”Peak Master, you should leave quickly. Also, please convey what Senior Brother Fang said. Perhaps the Spirit God Sect isn’t the only partner we can cooperate with here.”

”Besides the Spirit God Sect, who else can so quickly change the situation for the sword cultivators in Prison Wind Lands?” Zhang Ling snorted coldly.

She led the others as they transformed into streaks of sword light, disappearing into the horizon.

Seeing that, Qin Hucheng sighed softly in his heart. He then cupped his fists toward Fang Chen with a glance of gratitude, seemingly thankful that Fang Chen spared Zhang Ling and the others.

The Sect Master’s Hall fell into silence.

Wang Zhenlong suddenly spoke. ”You say that Wang Chongsong is not truly dead. Do you really mean that?”

Fang Chen cupped his fist and replied, ”I would not deceive you. It is indeed true. Wang Chongsong’s origins are extremely mysterious. I suspect he was at least a mid-level member of the Spirit God Sect before, possibly a high-level member.”

Someone murmured, ”Mid to high levels of the Spirit God Sect aren’t that impressive, right?”

Fang Chen glanced at the person and said calmly, ”When I say Spirit God Sect, I’m not referring to Spirit Blood Sect here. I’m talking about those who are fourth-transformation or above Loose Immortals. Any one of them could easily annihilate the three great continents.”

Everyone gasped.

Could the Spirit God Sect really be such a terrifying force?!

Fang Chen hesitated, then said, ”Master, if Wang Chongsong is truly your blood, perhaps he was possessed.”

Unexpectedly, Wang Zhenlong waved his hand. ”I have never married in my life, so I have no bloodline. He is my adopted son. Many years ago, someone left him as an infant outside my cave abode. If I ever find out who that person was, I will stab them through with a sword.”