Immortal of the Nine Realms

As Song Zhili was taken away, the private room turned silent. After all, Huang Qingque had just reached an agreement with Song Zhili and his group, and now one of them had been captured by their own people.

So what now? What would become of that agreement?

Huang Qingque said calmly, ”Ji Tiandu, it’s not that I don’t want to give you face, but now that Song Zhili’s been caught, the matter you asked me about..... Well, let’s just leave it at that, alright?”

Ji Tiandu thought for a moment, then smiled and said, ”I’ll find a way to get Song Zhili out. If that proves impossible, someone else will take his place. When the time comes, I’ll work with that person. I still hope Young Master Qingque can give us some consideration.”

He glanced at Fang Chen and nodded with a smile. ”Division Head Fang, I’ll have to trouble you with this matter. If I get the chance in the future, I’ll invite you to visit the Minor Immortal Realm and see a different kind of scenery.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”No problem.”

”Well then... I’ll take my leave,” said Ji Tiandu, cupping his hands politely to everyone.

With that, Ji Tiandu left the room.

Once alone, his refined and gentle expression suddenly twisted into a grimace. A few breaths later, he returned to normal. He casually pulled out a talisman and crushed it on the spot. His entire figure instantly vanished without a trace.

Du Yunxu murmured thoughtfully, ”A talisman...”

Then he walked into the hall, whispered a few words into Fang Chen’s ear, and left through the shadows.

Fang Chen sighed inwardly, feeling it was a pity. A Great Teleportation Immortal Talisman.... I thought we might find the route to the Minor Immortal Realm this time.

After all, Ji Tiandu was one of the key figures in this whole incident. However, the fact that he had just mentioned his elder brother suggested that the one truly plotting around the Anomalies was likely not Ji Tiandu, but his so-called elder brother.

If Ji Tiandu had been the mastermind, Fang Chen would not have let him leave so easily.

Huang Qingque said to Fang Chen, ”Division Head Fang, since Song Zhili has been captured, let’s just pretend that the one-year agreement never happened. Whatever Tuxiong Star needs to do about the Spirit God Sect, just proceed as planned. Today’s events won’t affect that.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Alright.”

”You’ve made quite a contribution on Tuxiong Star. To be able to force a third-transformation Loose Immortal to beg for mercy has certainly brought some prestige to the Killing Spiritual Division. Let’s remove the word ’acting’ from your title. If I recall, the former division head on Chaotic Star, where Song Zhili is from, left for the Buddha Realm long ago due to some reason and hasn’t returned since?”

At first, Huang Qingque was speaking to Fang Chen, but toward the end, he looked over at the fourth-transformation Corpse Transcending Immortal who served as a division head.

The division head nodded lightly. ”He heard that an immortal herb was about to appear over there, so he rushed to the Buddha Realm immediately. But he hasn’t returned after all these years. It’s likely he met a grim fate.

”The Killing Spiritual Division on Chaotic Star has been without a head ever since, lying dormant with no one truly in command. In all these years, there’s been hardly any real accomplishments. But this is also tied to a group of sword cultivators raised by Song Zhili. With them around, even if other colleagues wanted to make a move, they lacked the strength to withstand their offense.”

Huang Qingque frowned. ”All these years... why didn’t you assign a third-transformation to take charge there?”

The division head thought for a moment before responding, ”Mainly because we’re short on manpower, and deployments are hard to make. Plus, given Chaotic Star’s rank, the salary for the division head is only a single immortal crystal per year. The quotas for low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade spirit stones are also limited. Many third-transformation Loose Immortals aren’t willing to go.”

”It is rather meager and not as appealing as the more prosperous regions. But still, someone has to hold the front.”

Huang Qingque nodded, then looked at Fang Chen. ”Division Head Fang, with your strength, you can just about manage the role of division head on Chaotic Star. Are you willing to bear this heavy responsibility?”

There was a subtle change in the expressions of those present, especially among the first and second transformation Loose Immortals.

An annual salary of five immortal crystals might seem like little, but to them, it was already a considerable sum. For example, a first-transformation Loose Immortal stationed somewhere else would receive only one immortal crystal every ten years. A second-transformation Loose Immortal fared slightly better, receiving one crystal every five years.

Now, as long as Fang Chen nodded, he would receive several times, even up to ten times, that amount!

Huang Qingque’s gaze appeared casual, but he had actually been observing Fang Chen closely. If Fang Chen showed even the slightest hesitation, his attitude would change accordingly.

Fang Chen cupped his fist and bowed, his expression showing both excitement and gratitude. ”Many thanks for your trust, Young Master Qingque. I am willing to lay down my life in service!”

Satisfied with the response, Huang Qingque’s smile grew warmer and more amiable. He helped Fang Chen up and patted him on the shoulder:

”You don’t have to lay down your life for me—but rather for the Killing Spiritual Division. Our Huang Family has guarded the True Martial Realm for many years. The vast majority of our family are Killing Spiritual Division cultivators.

”Countless have died in battle over the years, all for one cause. To kill Spirit God Sect’s cultivators! Everyone present may have personal ambitions or selfish desires, but I believe your core intentions have never changed. Only when the Spirit God Sect is eradicated from the world can the Nine Mortal Realms truly know peace.

”I hope that one day, we can all witness that moment together.”

”To slay them!” everyone shouted in unison.

The corners of the old dragon’s mouth twitched, his gaze subtly dropping to his toes. He clearly did not want to get involved in the conflict between the Killing Spiritual Division and the Spirit God Sect.

Just as everyone thought the meeting was coming to an end, Huang Qingque threw out another question. ”By the way, recently someone from below reported that some unrest has been stirring in the Lesser Underworld over the past few years. Have any of you heard of this?”

Someone stepped forward and cupped his hands. ”I have heard something. A junior of mine often traverses the Underworld. A few years ago, he told me that a figure called Monarch Fang had emerged in the Lesser Underworld.”

His methods were formidable. Not long after taking power, he demolished all of the Spirit God Sect’s temples in the Lesser Underworld and drove them out entirely. In addition, he established three major divisions in the Lesser Underworld: the Department of Shadow Walkers, the Martial God Division, and—the Killing Spiritual Division.”

Some of the people were shocked to hear that.

The Killing Spiritual Division!?

”That’s right. I suspect this he may be a cultivator from our Killing Spiritual Division. Only by being on good terms with the Monarch Yan of the Lesser Underworld could he implement such sweeping reforms and establish such structures,” said someone with a smile.

”If Division Head Fang wasn’t a second-transformation Loose Immortal, I’d have suspected you were that Monarch Fang yourself,” said Huang Qingque while smiling.

Fang Chen smiled in response.

The others chuckled softly, clearly treating it as a joke.

Loose Immortals who walked the Path of Yin can only enter the Buddha Realm. They cannot enter the Lesser Underworld. That was common knowledge.

It was said that with the permission of Monarch Yan, a first-transformation Loose Immortal could enter the Lesser Underworld, but a second transformation still couldn’t.

Such were the rules of that realm.

Huang Qingque said thoughtfully, ”I think the same as you all. This Monarch Fang is very likely one of our own. If you get the chance, look into it and try to find out who he is. If you find the real person, treat him well. I’ll speak to him personally. The Lesser Underworld is a special place. If we can bring it fully under our control, it will bring great advantages.”

”Yes!” responded everyone in unison.

Just as Huang Qingque was about to speak again, he suddenly furrowed his brow and took out a transmission talisman. After glancing at it, he smiled at the crowd. ”Everyone, that’s all for today. I have something urgent to attend to and must return.” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

After a pause, he looked at Fang Chen. ”Division Head Fang, I originally wanted to speak with you further, but something pressing has come up. Let’s talk next time. When I get the chance, I’ll visit Chaotic Star.”

Fang Chen cupped his hands respectfully. ”Yes.”

What a pity. Now that Huang Qingque was leaving, Fang Chen’s plan to make him enter the Underworld would have to be shelved.