Immortal of the Nine Realms

In the blink of an eye, five more years passed. During these five years, all the major divisions in the Lesser Underworld had steadily improved. The Hidden Guard Division gradually got on track, temporarily focusing its main efforts on the True Martial Region to conduct more effective business with the Killing Spiritual Division.

A few pieces of information helped Xie Zhi uncover several traitors. Additionally, with their assistance, the Killing Spiritual Division had preemptively thwarted several major operations by the Spirit God Sect.

The Immortal Worshipping Palace would have charged at least ten Immortal Crystals for such critical intel. The Hidden Guard Division, however, charged only five Immortal Crystals.

This price, combined with the accuracy of the information, made Huang Qingque determined to deepen cooperation with the Hidden Guard Division.

One particular piece of intelligence was even more precise than what the Immortal Worshipping Palace had supplied. In fact, at that very time, the Immortal Worshipping Palace had been feeding information to the Spirit God Sect. But because the intel the Killing Spiritual Division had received was far more accurate, the Spirit God Sect had suffered a crushing defeat.

The Immortal Worshipping Palace had noticed this and inquired with high-level members of the Killing Spiritual Division, met with Huang Qingque, and even sent people to the Lesser Underworld to investigate the Hidden Guard Division. However, all efforts were in vain. At least within the small scale of the True Martial Region, the Immortal Worshipping Palace lost a lot of business.

However, they couldn’t retaliate, as they had to maintain neutrality. Otherwise, the consequences would be far-reaching.

Huang Qingque kept his promise, staying on Chaotic Star with the Division Head Duan and did not return. Therefore, several meetings with the Hidden Guard Division also took place there.

Yu Tingzhai approached Fang Chen and whispered, ”Lord, Gong Tianxin says Myriad Immortal Palace is about to make a move.”

Over the past five years, he had been the one to maintain contact with Gong Tianxin. Outwardly, their discussions revolved around profiting after the Nine Immortal Holy Land’s fall. In truth, it was a test—using Gong Tianxin’s position in the Immortal Worshipping Palace to compare the intelligence gap between them and the Hidden Guard Division.

Fang Chen nodded. ”The Hidden Guard Division has also received the news. The Myriad Immortal Palace is indeed about to act.”

Yu Tingzhai hesitated before asking, ”Lord, is the destruction of Nine Immortal Mountain a done deal?”

Nine Immortal Mountain had guarded Prison Wind for countless years. As an elder of the Yin Saint Sect, it was hard for him to imagine such a giant, knowing it was doomed, offering no resistance or defense. If the Nine Immortal Mountain was like this, what about the Yin Saint Sect? To Myriad Immortal Palace, was the Yin Saint Sect just an ant that could be crushed at will?

Yu Tingzhai understood the logic, but his heart still struggled to accept it.

Fang Chen said, ”Based on the information we have now, the destruction of Nine Immortal Mountain is indeed a done deal. Fortunately, Huang Qingque intervened and pleaded, so the lives of those mortals could be spared.”

If the Grand Elder of Nine Immortal Mountain heeded his advice and chose to venture into the Underworld, then the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land would still have a chance to rise again in the future.

Yu Tingzhai nodded and took his leave.

Not long after he left, Nangong Yuanzhen arrived, this time accompanied by his younger brother Nangong Yuancheng. Since Nangong Yuanzhen became the Underworld True God, Nangong Yuancheng was released from prison and was now living comfortably in the Lesser Underworld, resuming his cultivation.

Nangong Yuanzhen cupped his hands respectfully. ”Lord.”

Nangong Yuancheng quickly followed suit, silently marveling that if he had known earlier just how extraordinary Fang Chen’s abilities were, he would never have dared to act against him.

He had heard that a few years ago, Zhao Mingxuan’s father, Zhao Yunlu, had died, and his wandering soul was now suppressed somewhere in the Forgotten River. As for Zhao Mingxuan and Sun Gu, they still followed Empress Ci everywhere, one clapping hands, the other beating drums.

Luckily, he was sensible enough to speak well and hold back, which gave him the chance to wait for his brother to abandon the dark path and turn to the light.

Fang Chen asked, ”Have you come for the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land?”

”Yes....” Nangong Yuanzhen nodded. ”The Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land has been kind to me. If not for its nurturing, I wouldn’t have reached the rank of a first-transformation Loose Immortal before a thousand years.”

Fang Chen shook his head. ”It’s an outcome that can’t be changed—unless you know a sixth transformation immortal who can intervene on your behalf.”

Nangong Yuanzhen asked softly, ”Lord, what I mean is... if you could speak plainly to the grand elder about your status as the true god of the Underworld so he can make a more informed decision?”

”There are Myriad Immortal Palace cultivators within the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land, so directly informing him isn’t possible. But if your grand elder truly takes my advice and chooses to walk the path of yin, I can officially appoint him. Even if Immortal Worshipping Palace cultivators chose to follow suit later, once officially appointed, their allegiance will be mine, not theirs.”

He added, ”At least there won’t be any risk of leaked information.”

Nangong Yuanzhen sighed inwardly. He had guessed this answer before coming, but his heart wouldn’t rest if he didn’t make this trip.

After they left, Fang Chen glanced at the vast void of the Floating Pagoda Realm. Countless forces of cause and effect converged here, continuously merging into the Yin Monarch Armor he wore.

Over the years, Nine Heavens Profound Yin Primordial Spirit had improved somewhat, but the greatest improvement was still in the Yin Monarch Battle Armor he wore. However, compared to a third transformation, he was still a bit off.

Back when he used the Skin Peeling Technique on the flood dragon, the forces of karma from its body merged into the armor, boosting its power. However, he vaguely realized that the karma on the old flood dragon could never perfectly fuse with the armor’s own karma, creating a certain risk. Maybe he could try a few more times in the future, but over time, forcibly merging different karma might damage the armor.

”The karma on the old flood dragon is essentially the same as the Blood Spirit Pill and the Yin Lifespan Coins, but with some differences. The former is more chaotic, while the latter two are purer. The Blood Spirit Pill is purified through refining, while Yin Lifespan Coins are formed because wandering souls actively create them by forcibly stealing another’s Yin Lifespan. This will damage their mind and spirit, eventually turning them into those disgraceful Yin demons...”

”Next time, I’ll see if anyone volunteers for skin peeling and test the difference, verifying my theory.”

Having realized that, Fang Chen took off the Battle Armor and took a walk around the Lesser Underworld’s capital city, visiting the various divisions before returning to the living world.

”That Division Head Fang has shown up again...”

”He’s definitely not a Loose Immortal.”

”This information is crucial. It’s now confirmed that Monarch Yan Fang’s cultivation level is only in the Upper Three Realms.”

”Someone’s coming, hide!”

Several figures quietly vanished into the streets.

Xia Ji stood at the entrance of the Hidden Guard Division, turned to Xu Ge, and smiled. ”Guess if these people are from Immortal Worshipping Palace, Spirit God Sect, or the Killing Spiritual Division?”

”Could be none of the three. In recent years, quite a few forces have noticed us. But that’s fine. No matter who they are, on our turf, even dragons have to bow and tigers must lie down.”

Xia Ji nodded with a smile. ”Right, you’re absolutely correct.”

No matter which side they’re from, these guys can only appear in the capital because he and Shentu Cang gave the nod.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t even be able to get here.