Immortal of the Nine Realms

Ji Tiandu had indeed considered the possibility that they could fail to win the bid for the Yang Essence, and had even entertained other possible outcomes.

However, what he had never accounted for was that he would one day fall at the hands of a lowly Tribulation Realm cultivator.

No, even worse. He had never imagined that someone in the Minor Immortal Realm had uncovered Ji Tianjun’s intentions to walk the path of the Immaculate Immortal and even sent out people to obstruct him.

”The Road of Yellow Springs within Nanqing Constellation cannot be opened. I can only find an opportunity to follow them out of this place, and only then will I be able to proceed to the Underworld and wait for Elder Brother to send someone for me.”

Ji Tiandu clenched his teeth. For the future of the Ji Family—for his own future—Ji Tiandu had to pass this message on, no matter the cost.

The enemy had already intervened twice, and both times successfully. If Ji Tianjun still failed to realize what was happening, then the Immaculate Immortal Path would likely be forever closed to him.

Over the days that followed, Ji Tiandu shadowed Fang Chen the entire time. He wanted to see which cultivators he was connected with. Yet all he found was that, apart from seeking information on peak-grade spirit stones, the man merely sat in meditation and cultivation within his quiet chamber, having no contact with the outside world whatsoever.

Time passed day by day, and without realizing it, they had already reached the final days of the Immortal Exchange. Once these last few days were over, the conference would come to an end.

The concluding auction was unprecedented in grandeur. On that day, everyone gathered together for no other reason than to catch a glimpse of the Ancient Immortal Golden Body.

The information that had been deliberately suppressed earlier by the hosts of the Immortal Exchange had spread widely in the last few days. Now, everyone finally understood why sixth-transformation immortals had come to this event, and why so many of them, all at once.

The Void Breaking Boat, the Void Bright Grass, or the Invitations to the Upper Three Realms... none of these were their true goals. Their true purpose had been the Ancient Immortal Golden Body all along.

Seemingly unable to find anyone to chat with, a cultivator standing beside Fang Chen struck up a conversation. ”Fellow Daoist, how much do you know about the Ancient Immortal Golden Body? Care to exchange a bit of information with me?”

At that moment, their location was quite far from the auction platform. By the time they had arrived, all the good seats had long been taken.

Fang Chen smiled faintly and said, ”Ancient Immortals are seven-transformation immortals, and such beings are incredibly rare. Up to this day, I have never even laid eyes upon a living Ancient Immortal, let alone an Ancient Immortal Golden Body.”

”Why do you wish to know more, Fellow Daoist? In any case, the Golden Body will never be ours today. It is the sixth-transformation seniors who will be vying for it. It has nothing to do with us.”

”You can’t put it that way,” said Lin Bao with a carefree grin. ”Sure, we have no chance now, but who’s to say we won’t one day reach the sixth transformation ourselves? When that happens and we encounter another Golden Body in the future, it’ll be useful to understand the value and function of such a treasure.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Perhaps an Ancient Immortal Golden Body can help a sixth-transformation immortal comprehend the realm of the seventh transformation, and thus aid in ascension?”

His tone was casual, but his gaze quietly drifted toward the front, where the group of sixth-transformation immortals sat.

He wasn’t worried about being noticed. There were far too many cultivators here, and most of them were secretly observing the sixth-transformation immortals.

Lin Bao nodded emphatically. ”I think so as well. After all, at that level, ascension no longer relies entirely on immortal herbs.”

Lin Bao turned his gaze toward the man beside him—Wang Chongsong.

”Senior Brother, your knowledge is broad. You even cultivated in seclusion within the Upper Three Realms. Why don’t you tell us what use this Ancient Immortal Golden Body truly has? Could it even be used for pill or herb refining?”

Wang Chongsong gave him an impatient glance. ”We’re here just to witness the excitement. What’s with all these questions?”

”So you really have been to the Upper Three Realms, Fellow Daoist?” Fang Chen immediately leaned in, clasping his hands in a respectful salute, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes. ”A man who has been to the Upper Three Realms is never ordinary. Might you perhaps dispel some confusion for us?”

The nearby cultivators perked up, many turning their attention toward Wang Chongsong as well.

At first, Wang Chongsong had no intention of drawing attention to himself. But seeing the admiration in Fang Chen’s eyes and the envy and jealousy of those around, he cleared his throat.

”I don’t really know much, but in the Upper Three Realms, I once heard a certain rumor about the Ancient Immortal Golden Body. If you wish to understand the Golden Body, you must first understand what an Ancient Immortal is.”

The crowd all drew in a sharp breath of cold air. One person questioned, ”You know what an Ancient Immortal is?”

”Even sixth-transformation immortals probably have no real idea what the Ancient Immortals are,” murmured someone. ”The gap between sixth and seventh transformation isn’t just about realm—it’s a true threshold.

Just like the divide between the third and fourth transformations. How many third-transformation Loose Immortals spend their entire lives failing to cross it?”

Wang Chongsong chuckled lightly. ”A rumor is all it is. If you don’t care to hear it, then I won’t tell you.”

At once, the crowd fell silent. Some laughed awkwardly, while others tried to butter him up, all hoping he would share the rumor after all.

”Very well, then I will speak. The rumor I heard in the Upper Three Realms says this: to ascend to an Ancient Immortal, one must not only possess a seventh-transformation immortal herb corresponding to your chosen immortal path, but also a genuine Immortal Register.”

Wang Chongsong’s smile was faint. ”And I am not talking about the Immortal Register of your sects, that mere ledger of names used for record keeping. What I mean is the regulation established in the old Immortal Realm, the Decree of Immortal Register. Only those within the Immortal Register may enter the seventh transformation. And the number of Immortal Register slots in the world....”

The crowd showed expressions of shock and fear. Whether or not the tale was true, the implications hidden within were already deeply astonishing.

Moreover, based on their many years of experience and the occasional bits and pieces of intelligence they had gathered, they faintly felt that what this man was saying was very likely real!

”Daoist, what comes after the Immortal Register? Please, continue.”

Several people hastily cupped their hands in respect.

At that very moment, quite a few cultivators nearby had also focused their attention on Wang Chongsong. Among them, some revealed expressions as though lost in thought.

Wang Chongsong smiled. ”The quota of Immortal Registers is, in fact, fixed. Which is to say, once the quota of seventh transformation Ancient Immortals is full, if someone wishes to ascend, they must wait until one among the Ancient Immortals falls.”

The crowd all drew in a collective breath of cold air.

This was information they had never heard before. Did it mean that the number of seven transformation Ancient Immortals was constant? If all the registry positions were occupied, then even those who had the proper immortal herb would be unable to ascend!

Such a thing actually exists?

After their shock subsided, countless people looked at Wang Chongsong with a trace of complexity.

Was this information considered common knowledge within the Upper Three Realms? If that was the case, then the disparity between the Lower Six Realms and the Upper Three really was far too great.

Wang Chongsong continued, his voice steady. ”In other words... this Ancient Immortal Golden Body marks the fall of an Ancient Immortal. Which means... an Immortal Register slot has been freed.”

In an instant, everyone felt their hair stand on end.

If that was true, then this auction would not merely be a contest among sixth-transformations, it might also draw the gaze of the Upper Three Realms too!

Many who had only come to spectate suddenly found their eyes burning with a new light. Even if there were nothing but insignificant insects before the sixth-transformation immortals, these insects could still dream.

Can’t these insects also dream of taking a bite?

After all, whoever could obtain this Golden Body could exchange it for a fourth or even fifth transformation immortal herb!

Fang Chen looked at Wang Chongsong, and a doubt rose in his heart.

What exactly was this fellow trying to do?