Immortal of the Nine Realms

At first, Fang Chen had thought that Pu Yuanzhu was the one who had sent the giant crane to fetch him back then, but later, Pu Yuanzhu confirmed it wasn’t him.

Now, in the sacred land of Nine Immortal Mountain, he saw that same giant crane, and it even pretended not to recognize him.

The Immortal Boat followed the crane toward one of the Nine Immortal Mountains’ ranges.

As they got closer, clusters of buildings came into view. These mountain ranges seemed to be mainly inhabited by mortals. However, with the height they were flying at, even if the mortals looked up, they couldn’t see the giant crane and the Immortal Boat.

A rough glance revealed what seemed like a martial world—temples, battlefields, and fierce fighting.

”The rumors weren’t baseless. Such vast mountains are rarely seen in the Mortal Realm.” Li Wuwang observed the mortals below with interest. ”They may live their entire lives never knowing where they truly are, or even be unable to ever leave Nine Immortal Mountain.”

Fang Chen agreed.

To the mortals below, a single mountain range was its own world. And the territory of this world was far greater than the old Grand Xia Empire. Ordinary mortals really had no chance of leaving. Even if they left their birthplace, they would still remain within the Nine Immortal Mountain.

The Void Immortal Sword Sect was similar in nature, but compared to these nine immortal mountains, its scale was much smaller.

With the giant crane leading the way, the group passed through numerous formations. Eventually, the view opened up. Celestial birds soared, cultivators walked in groups. It was a completely different world from below.

Perhaps to the mortals of Nine Immortal Mountain, this was the Immortal Realm of their imagination.

A group of young cultivators happened to pass by. One of them had sharp eyes and spotted Zhu Yunchen.

”Senior Brother Zhu, it’s Elder Yunchen and the others!”

As for Li Wuwang and Fang Chen, they naturally didn’t recognize them.

Many people looked surprised.

”Huh, it really is Zhu Yunchen.”

Zhu Yunchen was a sword cultivator nurtured by the Nine Immortal Mountain. However, he had suddenly left to join the Heavenly Sword Division. Thus, rumors had started circulating privately that Zhu Yunchen had always been a spy for the Heavenly Sword Division, biting the hand that fed him since he was young.

Of course, such rumors only circulated in small circles, never spoken openly. After all, Nine Immortal Mountain didn’t want to make an enemy of the Heavenly Sword Division.

However... in recent years, during the conflict between the Killing Spiritual Division and the Spirit God Sect, several Loose Immortals from Nine Immortal Mountain had died, and it was the Heavenly Sword Division that had killed them.

So when they saw Zhu Yunchen appear, many were surprised and confused, with a faint trace of anger in their eyes.

This traitor still dares to return?

Zhu Kexiu’s expression changed slightly. Instead of being pleased to see Zhu Yunchen, he frowned. But when he saw Fang Chen standing next to Zhu Yunchen, his expression became even more strange.

”Why is he here too?”

”How does he even dare to come here?”

Two big questions surged up in Zhu Kexiu’s mind.

The giant crane was already leading Fang Chen and the others deeper into the mountain.

Zhu Kexiu only had time to send a voice transmission with a single question, but got no reply from Zhu Yunchen.

”That’s Elder Crane, the Grand Elder’s mount.” Someone looked toward Zhu Kexiu and asked, ”Junior Brother Zhu, who are those two next to your father?”

”One of them is named Fang Chen. Don’t know if you remember, but he performed quite impressively on the Sword Burial Heavenly Ladder, and he’s also in possession of a spiritual treasure,” Zhu Kexiu replied.

The crowd was shocked.

”A spiritual treasure?”

A spiritual treasure was a rare item. On a star as vast as the Fortune Star, how many spiritual treasures even existed?

”I remember now. The City Lord of Yunlu City, Zhao Yunlu, was there that time. It seems that the death of Zhao Yunlu’s son, Zhao Mingxuan, was related to this person named Fang Chen. How is he walking with your father?” someone asked in surprise.

Zhu Kexiu shook his head with a serious expression. ”No idea.”

***

The group eventually arrived in front of a grand hall. With a flap of its wings, the giant crane suddenly transformed into a gray-robed youth who landed lightly on the ground and made a gesture inviting them in. ”The Grand Elder has been waiting inside for some time. Please, go ahead.”

His gaze was calm; even when facing Li Wuwang, he showed no reverence or fear, as if they were merely ordinary guests.

Only when he looked at Fang Chen did a faint ripple pass through his eyes.

As they passed by, Fang Chen suddenly smiled and said, ”Your voice sounds quite familiar. I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before.”

The gray-robed youth smiled faintly. ”You must be mistaken. There are countless people with similar voices in the world. It’s not unusual.”

Fang Chen nodded, still smiling. ”Yes, perhaps I was mistaken.”

With that, they entered the hall with Li Wuwang.

Inside, spirit fruits and tea had already been prepared. There were three servings in total.

A white-haired, white-robed elder sat in the center. When he saw the three of them, he smiled and nodded. ”Please, have a seat.”

Zhu Yunchen’s expression changed slightly. He cupped his hands and said, ”Yunchen. Greetings, Grand Elder.”

”Sit,” the white-haired elder said with a smile.

Zhu Yunchen hesitated, then replied softly, ”I wouldn’t dare. I’ll just stand.”

”If the Grand Elder tells you to sit, then sit,” Li Wuwang said calmly.

Zhu Yunchen was momentarily stunned. In the end, he silently nodded and took his seat.

”Young friends, our Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land has not involved itself in the conflict between the Killing Spiritual Division and the Spirit God Sect. Is your visit today related to that?” the white-haired elder asked with a smile.

”It’s not about that,” Li Wuwang revealed, glancing at Fang Chen. ”He’s here to buy the top-grade spirit stones in your possession.”

”I heard from the old flood dragon that you might have three top-grade spirit stones, Senior. I was hoping to see if I could purchase one or two of them,” Fang Chen said with a smile. ”I’ll pay with immortal crystals.”

This white-haired elder clearly wasn’t as uninvolved as Li Wuwang had assumed.

If he truly had no connection, why would he have sent his mount to escort Fang Chen to the True Martial Domain back then?

Could it be that the Grand Elder of Nine Immortal Mountain also had some ties to Master Yunhe?

”With my current cultivation, whether it’s immortal crystals or top-grade spirit stones, they’re not of much use to me,” said the elder, smiling.

Three top-grade spirit stones appeared in his hand as he casually played with them.

”There’s no need to mention buying. What if I simply gave them to you?”

Fang Chen looked at the three spirit stones. Even from a distance, he could sense the three unique spiritual energies within them.

”If Senior truly wishes to gift them to me, I would be deeply grateful,” Fang Chen responded.

Li Wuwang found this strange and glanced at both the Nine Immortal Mountain’s Grand Elder and Fang Chen.

He couldn’t help but think back to the exchange Fang Chen had with the crane outside.

Could it be that they were truly acquainted?

The Grand Elder smiled. ”As long as you agree to one condition, I’ll give them to you.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Please speak, Senior. If it’s something I can do, I won’t refuse.”

”For you, this condition shouldn’t be difficult.” The Grand Elder smiled. ”I hope you’ll take on the role of Holy Master of Nine Immortal Mountain.”

Zhu Yunchen, who had barely warmed his seat, shot to his feet in shock.

Li Wuwang’s expression shifted slightly. He looked at the Grand Elder of Nine Immortal Mountain as if he were looking at a fool.

”Holy Master of Nine Immortal Mountain?”

Fang Chen was momentarily stunned. The condition had indeed caught him completely off guard.