Immortal of the Nine Realms

A Golden Core Realm cultivator dying on the streets of Qingyuan Market was no small matter.

In the past, some cultivators had also struck out in anger within the market and taken lives; even if the one killed was merely a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, the attacker would still receive extremely severe punishment.

Cangyun Sect had a Dao Union Realm elder stationed there, so perhaps the punishment would not be overly harsh. But having only just settled on Cang Mountain, Cangyun Sect would very likely be expelled from Qingyuan Market. The Duan Family would also not let the matter rest. They would surely retaliate, and what followed would likely be a fierce battle.

Duan Tian’en looked at the severed head in his hands. His deathly pale face warmed slightly, and a hatred that cut to the bone flared in his eyes. Without a word, he carried the head and made his way toward Cang Mountain.

Wei Chen saw this and immediately led a group of friends eager for spectacle to follow Duan Tian’en. ”Tian’en, I’ll walk with you, in case the road proves unsafe.”

A hint of gratitude appeared in Duan Tian’en’s eyes, and he nodded lightly. ”Thank you, Senior Wei.”

The man was offering to protect them on their way back, in case Elder Fang attempted to strike at them on Cang Mountain. This was a favor to be acknowledged.

***

On the way back to the mountain, Xu Gaohu opened his mouth several times, as if to speak. But in the end, he could only sigh helplessly when he saw Fang Chen wave his hand and lead his disciples back to Cangyun Sect.

”Daoist Fang’s temperament is far too violent,” muttered Xu Gaohu, shaking his head.

Beside Xu Gaohu, Lin Xiu stood with a grave expression. ”Master, the Duan Family has been bullying us as well. I suspect that today’s provocation was deliberate.”

Hearing Lin Xiu’s words, his three Foundation Building Realm junior brothers looked toward him. They knew their senior brother had more than cultivation talent; he was clever too. Under his management, Gaohu Temple’s affairs had been smooth sailing.

”Deliberate provocation?” Xu Gaohu was taken aback, then said with a strange look, ”If the Duan Family was that capable, they wouldn’t have let Cangyun Sect settle on the mountain in the first place. What would they gain from stirring trouble now?”

He paused, then sucked in a breath of cold air. ”Could it be that they had figured out Daoist Fang’s rash nature and counted on him lashing out first? Do they want to leverage the power of the other families to drive Cangyun Sect out of the market?”

If those families used this as a pretext to intervene, Cangyun Sect might not only be driven out of Cang Mountain. There was even a chance that not a single one of the thousands of spiritual mountains in Qingyuan Market would dare take them in.

The more Xu Gaohu thought about it, the more his heart quailed. ”To discard one of their Golden Core Realm cultivators as a mere pawn.... The Duan Family is far too ruthless.”

The three Foundation Building Realm disciples nodded like pecking chicks, fear lingering in their eyes.

Inwardly, they sighed in relief. They thanked the heavens their master was a kindhearted man who would not stoop to such cruelty as sacrificing one of his cherished disciples.

Lin Xiu gave a bitter smile. ”We saw Senior Fang speak with calm courtesy earlier. He didn’t seem like the hot-tempered kind. Had I not seen him kill the man myself, I would have struggled to believe such news. The Cangyun Sect has not been here long, and before today, Senior Fang hadn’t clashed with anyone. How would the Duan Family have read his temperament?”

Xu Gaohu was momentarily at a loss. ”If not for that reason, then what?”

Lin Xiu thought for a moment, then shook his head. ”I do not understand either, but this matter is really strange.”

***

Meanwhile, Duan Tian’en had already returned to the Duan Family Manor on Cang Mountain, carrying the severed head. He was accompanied by a group of Duan Family juniors, their faces filled with grief and anger.

After a dozen breaths, a Nascent Soul Realm elder of the Duan Family arrived. Seeing the head in Tian’en’s arms, he stared for a few moments, then after hearing the cause, he nodded slightly. ”I will report this matter to the patriarch. Rest assured, our disciples will not die in vain.”

Having said that, he turned to Wei Chen and his companions and clasped his hands. ”Thank you for escorting our younger clansman. If you gentlemen have no pressing matters, why not stay and have a cup of tea? As it happens, we have distinguished guests today, and you can join us.”

Wei Chen and the others’ eyes lit up. Anyone the Duan Family called a distinguished guest had to be a major figure in Qingyuan Market.

***

Half an hour later, in the Duan Family Manor’s rear courtyard.

The surroundings were tranquil; a spiritual brook murmured by, and every now and then, celestial birds alighted to preen their feathers. Beautiful maids moved to and fro, serving spiritual tea to the guests.

There were dozens seated here; Wei Chen and his friends could only sit in the far corners, but they felt no slight. Rather, they were somewhat flattered. For among today’s guests, eighty percent cultivators were in the Middle Three Realms, and far from ordinary ones too.

There were Soul Splitting Realms and even Fusion Realms, each one a major figure in Guangyuan Hall. Wei Chen had seen some of them before, and even tried to curry favor. Yet even these people were merely there as an entourage.

The person sitting in the main seat was Duan Feizhan, the Duan Family Patriarch who cultivated on Cuntai Mountain and served as an elder in Guangyuan Hall.

From the conversation, it emerged that he had already advanced to the Ascension Realm, becoming one of the most powerful in Qingyuan Market.

Wei Chen’s Nascent Soul Realm friends stole glances at him, wondering if he had known this in advance.

Beside Duan Feizhan sat a direct disciple of Guangyuan Hall, Xu Dongjiang.

He was only a junior in the Dao Union Realm, far from Duan Feizhan’s level, but Wei Chen and the others had all heard of him. He was a direct descendant of the Loose Immortal, Xu Guangyuan, and one of the most outstanding of his lineage.

Everyone present today was a major figure of Qingyuan Market, except for Wei Chen’s group of small Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

They were rather fidgety, feeling uneasy and out of place. However, they dared not leave without permission. They could only remain calm and composed.

”Not long ago, I broke through to the Ascension Realm. Fearing instability in my cultivation, I concealed the news. I did not expect that one of my clansmen would be slain in public in the marketplace.” Duan Feizhan sighed lightly. ”Had I known, why would I have hidden it? If others knew I had advanced, how would they dare deal such a blow to the Duan Family?”

As he spoke, Duan Tian’en was led in, still holding the severed head. The guests exchanged glances, their expressions turning grave, it seemed the Duan Family’s newly advanced Ascension Realm patriarch intended to establish his prestige today.

Whenever a powerful cultivator advanced in Qingyuan Market, some remained low-key, but large and powerful clans would always find an excuse to show their strength.

This had become an unspoken rule.

As for the death of a Golden Core Realm disciple... was it really important?

Xu Dongjiang, who had been smiling all along, glanced at the head and let out a soft chuckle. ”I hear the killer is from Cangyun Sect, who have just settled on Cang Mountain? Bring the culprit here and execute him on the spot; the rest can be driven out of Qingyuan Market.”

Wei Chen glanced at his friends, a trace of a smile and pride in his eyes. His Nascent Soul Realm companions could not help but marvel at Wei Chen’s information network.

With Xu Dongjiang speaking, the Guangyuan Hall cultivators present, all of his faction, would naturally agree. Duan Feizhan, after all, was now a valued elder of Xu Dongjiang’s line. They were all on the same side.

Duan Feizhan smiled. ”To act, one must have a reason. That is why I have invited the Ice God Sect here, to make clear that the Duan Family is not tyrannical, nor does it act without cause.”

Wei Chen and the others’ eyes shifted.

The Ice God Sect was no weaker than Guangyuan Hall, and also had a Loose Immortal in charge of them. In principle, Cang Mountain and the dozens of spirit mountains nearby were under the Ice God Sect’s jurisdiction.

Standing beside Wei Chen, a thoughtful look crossed Fang Chen’s face.

Ice God Sect... hmm....

Though he could not enter the Underworld and traverse it to appear anywhere he wanted, his soul could still roam freely.

He had come out of habit, to see if there were any Spirit God Sect cultivators present.