Immortal of the Nine Realms

Diao Wu appeared furious, but his eyes kept darting about, subtly exchanging glances and observing the reactions of the crowd. Gradually, his heart sank.

Ouyang Xuanzhen said nothing, merely watched him in silence, letting Diao Wu put on his show. After the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Diao Wu sneered and looked toward the figure seated high above. ”Enough. I admit defeat. What do you plan to do with me today?”

”So he really is a Spirit Blood Sect cultivator?”

”Now that I think about it, that twenty-year war between the Thousand Mountain Dao Gate and Stone Leaf Dao Gate didn’t bring about an endless death of cultivators, but also countless innocent mortals. Classic Spirit Blood Sect methods.”

A number of people suddenly turned to look at the Stone Leaf Dao Gate’s representatives. One elderly man with thinning hair visibly flinched and cautiously glanced at the high platform.

Diao Wu let out a cold laugh. ”Shiye, we’ve already been exposed. No need to be afraid. Though the Killing Spiritual Division may hold the upper hand today, one day, the Spirit Blood Sect will trample this realm beneath its feet.”

The elder of the Stone Leaf Dao Gate sighed and slowly stepped up beside Diao Wu.

After that, Ouyang Xuanzhen didn’t even need to name more. Figures began stepping forward one after another, quietly moving to stand beside Diao Wu and Shiye.

The crowd was shaken.

So many Spirit Blood Sect members had infiltrated the Daoist world?

Ouyang Xuanzhen maintained a calm expression, but he, too, was surprised on the inside.

He held a list in his hand, given to him by Fang Chen. Now, everyone named on that list had voluntarily revealed themselves, down to the very last name.

To unearth such long-hidden infiltrators had nothing to do with brute strength... it meant that even he himself had likely been watched every moment of every day.

”No wonder he won so easily during the battle at the Immortal Demonic Sea. The intelligence network this man controls is beyond anything the Spirit God Sect could ever match.”

An hour later, Ouyang Xuanzhen pulled out a few more who had refused to come forward earlier. After verifying the final headcount, he cupped his hands toward Fang Chen.

”Your Highness, there are 132 names on the list. All of them are now accounted for.”

The captured Spirit Blood Sect members stared bitterly at Fang Chen. Some silently cursed their luck. They had known something was off about this Daoist Conference but couldn’t resist showing up out of arrogance.

They hadn’t taken any action for years. They couldn’t understand how their identities had been exposed.

”Neutralize them.”

”Yes.”

In a flash, three Immortal Kings struck simultaneously, killing the 132 cultivators on the spot.

After death, their souls were separated from their bodies. As they floated in the void, they began discussing possible countermeasures while casting venomous glances at Fang Chen.

But soon, some began to sense something was off. They turned instinctively and froze.

A group of figures cloaked in yin energy stood nearby, smiling faintly, as if they’d been waiting.

They were all dressed in uniform. Though weaker than the Spirit Blood Sect members had been in life, they were far stronger in death.

Most importantly, none of the Spirit Blood Sect members had seen them before they died.

”They’re Day Walkers from the Underworld!” someone muttered grimly.

They had long suspected that the current rulers of the Lesser Underworld were close with the Killing Spiritual Division. Seeing these Day Walkers already waiting confirmed it. The bond between the Underworld and the Three Thousand Dao Sect was far from ordinary.

Li Badao laughed heartily. ”Fellow cultivators, this is the end of the road for you here in the Mortal Realm. I’ll be your guide for the rest.”

With a flick of his sleeve, a chain shot out and pierced through the gathered souls. Under the escort of the Dao Walkers, they were led into the Yellow Springs Road.

With the infiltrators purged, Fang Chen personally appointed the 36 Purple Seal Celestial Masters. Then, the remaining sects nominated 72 Golden Seal Celestial Masters.

The Daoist Conference thus came to a close.

Ji Liang stood dazed. He had expected rebuke or even punishment today. Yet nothing had happened. Fang Chen hadn’t even glanced his way.

Just as he was about to leave with the crowd, he was startled by a familiar figure standing before him.

The Blood Paper Figure stood there in silence, his gaze complex as he stared at Ji Liang.

”What... is this?”

Everyone from the Great Expansion Dao Palace, including Ouyang Xuanzhen, was shaken by the sight of him.

There was something deeply unnatural about the Blood Paper Figure. A faint, bone-chilling yin aura clung to him like a cold breeze leaking from a cellar door. One couldn’t help but wonder what horror would spill out if that door were flung wide open.

Ouyang Xuanzhen said nothing and quickly led his disciples away, leaving Ji Liang standing alone.

Xing Xian smiled gently. ”Young Master.”

Ji Liang finally snapped out of it and managed a bitter smile. ”What exactly happened during the time I carried out the Soul Crossing Ritual?”

Xing Xian spoke softly. ”There are things... that you shouldn’t know too much about. I only came to see you one last time. I’ll be rather busy from now on and may not have the chance again.”

Ji Liang was silent for a few breaths before nodding. ”Don’t worry. You don’t need to concern yourself with me. You’ll go farther following him than you ever would with me.”

Xing Xian didn’t respond. His purpose had always been to restore Monarch Yan to the Underworld, and he had done just that.

As for Ji Liang, having failed to inherit Monarch Yan’s legacy... he was simply a passerby in that tale.

Ji Liang cupped his hands in farewell and quickly rejoined the disciples of the Great Expansion Dao Palace. Once outside the grounds of the Three Thousand Daoist Sects, he paused and let out a soft sigh.

He now understood why he had survived that trip through the Underworld... and why Fang Chen hadn’t acted against him today.

***

Creation Star, Prison Wind Lands.

A certain manor was bustling with excitement. Its owner, an elder from the Nine Immortals Mountain Holy Land and a first-transformation Loose Immortal named Lin, was celebrating the marriage of his seventy-second concubine.

Many fellow Nine Immortals Mountain cultivators had come to offer congratulations, and other guests from various powers also arrived bearing gifts and hoping for a cup of wine.

Qu Ge came on behalf of the Qu Clan. Du Anxian represented the Du Clan. Even Nangong Yuanzhen, the youngest Loose Immortal of Nine Immortals Mountain, made an appearance.

The three were surrounded by many younger cultivators, who looked upon them with admiration and reverence.

”Prison Wind has changed so much in the past few years. Of the four great noble clans, only the Qu and Du Clans remain.”

”Exactly. Who would have thought the sword cultivators would rise like that? The Heavenly Sword Division might now rival the three great sects. They might even one day match Nine Immortals Mountain itself.”

The cultivators drank and chatted about current affairs and rumors, using gossip as a form of entertainment.

Nangong Yuanzhen and the others spoke with elder cultivators, occasionally answering questions from the younger generation, while listening attentively to what was being said around them.

Suddenly, all three looked toward the entrance.

There, walking side by side, were Marshal Xiao of the Killing Spiritual Division and Xing Jintuo of the Martial God Division.

”They’ve arrived.”

The three exchanged glances, then calmly returned to their conversations, pretending nothing had happened.

But they knew.

The net had just begun to close.