Immortal of the Nine Realms

”The Forgotten River.... Turns out it is actually one of the Great Daos. No wonder it possesses such wondrous abilities.”

”It’s just... the chapter clearly states that this Dao is of great inauspiciousness, which obviously carries tremendous danger. For ordinary cultivators, advancing to the Dao Union Realm has no real risks, only the matter of slow and steady effort.”

Fang Chen’s mind recalled the information regarding the Forgotten River. It was the only extraordinary spectacle visible both in the Floating Pagoda Realm and the Lesser Underworld.

However, to walk upon the Forgotten River required the expenditure of Yin Lifespan.

Its usual function was to drown wandering, lonely souls. Those spirits trapped within it would find their thoughts slow and their every moment a torment.

Sometimes, being thrown in for a single year would feel like ten years had passed.

”Its main function is ’imprisonment.’ If I fuse with this Dao, my Nine Heavens Profound Mother Primordial Spirit should gain some of the Forgotten River’s powers.”

Fang Chen glanced at his avatars, cultivating nearby.

After pondering for a while, he finally decided to attempt fusing with the Forgotten River Dao.

Since it was singled out in the Three Thousand Dao Art and marked as dangerous, it meant that the Forgotten River Dao was likely one of the foremost Daos, whether in the Nine Mortal Realms or in the Immortal Realm.

He sat cross-legged and began meditating.

Several days later, Fang Chen opened his eyes with a slightly strange expression.

He had followed the meditation method exactly, yet he had not seen the Forgotten River.

”Could it be... I have to enter the Underworld?” he muttered with a frown.

If that condition were necessary, then it would be impossible for him to advance to the Dao Union Realm in the Nanqing Constellation.

He couldn’t open the path to the Underworld there. Even the Monarch Yan’s Seal failed to summon Stone Dragon or any others.

Fang Chen decided to try for a while longer. If he still could not meditate his way to see the Forgotten River, it would prove that he had to enter the Underworld.

Years passed. He still saw nothing.

His guess was right.

In that case, remaining in the Realm of Three Thousand Dao for long periods became meaningless. If he could not break through, every year he stayed would simply waste more of his lifespan.

A few more years passed, and his allotted time in the Realm of Three Thousand Dao expired. Fang Chen did not renew it.

***

The moment he came out, Fang Chen heard Fang Zhixue’s voice from outside his room.

”Brother, we’re planning to go down to the market at the mountain’s foot for a stroll. Do you want to come along?”

Sweeping his gaze, Fang Chen saw that besides Fang Zhixue, there were several Golden Core Realm cultivators from the Three Thousand Dao Gate, the Desolate Courtyard, and the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

Light flashed before their eyes, and in the next moment, they hurriedly bowed. ”Greetings, Elder Fang.”

This was the rule he and the old flood dragon had set; anyone from the Golden Core Realm to the Dao Union Realm was to be addressed as Elder, without any extra honorifics.

As for those in the three Upper Three Realms, like Zhao Jiaolong, they were called Grand Elders.

”You’re heading to the market down the mountain? Planning to buy something?” Fang Chen asked with a smile.

Langya Wenqiu smiled back. ”We heard that Qingyuan Market holds a minor gathering once every three years and a grand one every seven. The Qingyuan Grand Gathering just started a few days ago, so we thought we’d try our luck and see if we could buy something useful.”

Everyone’s eyes held anticipation. Though Qingyuan Market was little-known in the Nanqing Constellation, they had not been here long before realizing how deep the constellation’s heritage ran.

Some items long lost on Tuxiong Star were still passed down here.

Moreover, the same pill that cost 500 low-grade spirit stones on Tuxiong Star might only cost 200 here.

This price gap had already brought them considerable benefit, let alone that with the grand gathering now open, many more fine goods would be flooding into the market.

”Sister Wenqiu has already reached the grand completion stage of the Golden Core Realm. She truly should go out for a walk; this will help with forming her Nascent Soul.”

Fang Chen nodded with a smile, then agreed to descend the mountain with them. He too wanted to see if the grand gathering held anything he might need.

On their way down, they passed many cultivators of Cang Mountain—some from sects, some lone wanderers.

Those who recognized the Cangyun Sect robes reacted differently. Some greeted them warmly, some avoided them, and some secretly glared in hostility.

About a hundred miles from the Cangyun Sect stood a Daoist temple named Gaohu Temple. Its master, Xu Gaohu, had once been a wandering cultivator. After years of cultivation on Cang Mountain, he decided to found his own sect, eventually establishing Xu Gaohu Temple as a Nascent Soul Realm expert.

Xu Gaohu was a shrewd man who knew how to make friends. Back when Cangyun Sect first sought to settle here, he was one of the few who proactively offered friendship, expressing willingness to be neighbors.

That day, Xu Gaohu was also taking several disciples down the mountain. His Xu Gaohu Temple now had thirty-three Daoists in total.

Four were his registered disciples, one had just formed their Golden Core, and the other three were in the Foundation Building Realm. The rest were their disciples, considered Xu Gaohu’s ’grand-disciples’.

Xu Gaohu’s eyes shifted, spotting Fang Zhixue and Langya Wenqiu at once. ”Huh? Cangyun Sect?”

A flicker of envy crossed his eyes—not envy of them, but of their sect’s strength.

All of them were Golden Core cultivators.

He had heard that Cangyun Sect might even have more Golden Core Realm cultivators than Foundation Building Realm cultivators, and that they had no shortage of Nascent Soul Realm experts. Not only that, they even had cultivators of the Upper Three Realms, and perhaps even a Dao Union Realm expert!

Fortunately, he had been among the first to befriend them. Later, upon learning they had a Dao Union Realm cultivator, Xu Gaohu had felt he’d struck gold.

Xu Gaohu was about to lead his disciples over to greet them when his eyes fell on Fang Chen. His expression tightened slightly.

This man rarely showed himself, and when he did, he spoke little.

Even when the Cangyun Sect had been establishing itself here and clashing with others, this person had never made a move.

But Xu Gaohu knew this man was surely an Elder. Since he could not see through his cultivation, it meant this person was at least at the Soul Splitting Realm!

With that thought, Xu Gaohu immediately led his people forward and bowed respectfully. ”Junior pays respects to Senior!”

”Junior pays respects to Senior!” his four disciples echoed.

”Isn’t that Xu Gaohu?”

”That bootlicker, off to flatter Cangyun Sect cultivators again. I really look down on him.”

”Heh, look down on him? Back then, he had no idea the Cangyun Sect had even a Dao Union Realm ancestor. This time his flattery is worth a fortune. I’m green with envy.”

Nearby, many descending cultivators noticed and began transmitting messages to one another.

”Brother, that’s Xu Gaohu, the master of Gaohu Temple.”

Seeing Fang Chen remain indifferent, Fang Zhixue quietly transmitted, ”He chose to befriend us before knowing our background. He has pretty good vision.”

”So it’s Master Xu. You’re too courteous. Why call me Senior? I’m merely a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator,” said Fang Chen, cupping his hands with a smile.

He let out a wisp of Nascent Soul aura.

Xu Gaohu was a bit surprised, then gave a wry smile. ”Your aura-concealing skill is truly superb. I couldn’t judge your cultivation and feared offending a Senior.”

”Master Xu, are you heading down for the grand gathering? We are too, why not go together?” Fang Chen said with a smile.

After all, they were outsiders here, and having a local following them could be quite convenient.

Xu Gaohu’s face lit up with delight. He agreed at once, inwardly thrilled. He’d been wondering how to strengthen ties with the Cangyun Sect.

They had practically given him a pillow just as he was about to lie down!