Immortal of the Nine Realms

When it came to the number of Loose Immortals in the Myriad Immortal Palace, Immortal Kumu and Wan Shouque knew best. They had convened a meeting concerning this matter not too long ago after all.

However, Wan Shouque had yet to recover from the immense shock of becoming an Underworld True God.

Immortal Kumu reported, ”Lord, at present, the Myriad Immortal Palace has 12 third-transformation Loose Immortals, 40 second-transformations, and 126 first-transformations.

”Our numbers used to be a lot more than that. Exactly 13 third-transformations, 46 second-transformations, and as many as 157 first-transformations. Unfortunately, due to conflicts and grievances, many perished over the past few years.”

Yu Tingzhai looked toward Fang Chen and said with a smile, ”If we had known this plan would unfold now, we could’ve avoided making so many moves these years. Then the Myriad Immortal Palace would not have suffered such heavy losses.”

Normally, third-transformation cultivators enjoyed a long lifespan. It wasn’t unusual for the Myriad Immortal Palace to go a thousand years without losing a single one. The same could be said about the first and second transformation experts as well.

But the losses of the past few decades were far beyond expectations, which was exactly why they had held a meeting in Myriad Immortal City.

Hearing Yu Tingzhai’s words, Immortal Kumu and Wan Shouque froze, then drew in cold breaths.

So these were the people after the Myriad Immortal Palace’s calamities in recent years? But why target the Myriad Immortal Palace? Had the Myriad Immortal Palace unknowingly offended Monarch Yan?

Fang Chen fell into thought. ”Twelve third-transformations...”

Conferring a third-transformation expert with the role of a Yin Soldier cost about 15,000 years of Yin Lifespan, so 12 of them would cost 180,000.

He had around 305,249 years of Yin Lifespan in the seal currently. Subtracting 180,000 from 305,249 left him a little over 120,000. Then there were 40 second-transformation immortals. Those would require 5,000 each, so the 120,000 he had wouldn’t be enough to convert them all.

After a moment of thought, Fang Chen turned his gaze toward Immortal Kumu and Wan Shouque and said, ”Call those twelve third-transformation cultivators here first. With your status in the Myriad Immortal Palace, it should not be difficult.”

Both nodded together. Calling these twelve over was trivial.

If the Myriad Immortal Palace lost its twelve third-transformation immortals in one fell swoop, Immortal Xingyu would erupt in fury. However, she wouldn’t be able to trace it back to them once they were brought on the path of Underworld True Gods.

***

Over the next few months, the remaining twelve third-transformation cultivators of the Myriad Immortal Palace were brought one by one to meet Fang Chen. Under the watchful eyes of a group of fourth-transformation experts, they had no power to resist, and they all became Underworld True Gods.

Among them, some belonged to Wan Shouque’s faction, some to Immortal Kumu, and some had once been close to Xi Zian. Others were confidants of Immortal Xingyu, with exalted positions and wealthy territories.

Now, all had become Fang Chen’s people. The three Guardian True Immortals and the twelve third-transformation Immortals of the Myriad Immortal Palace no longer served Immortal Xingyu.

As for those in the first transformation, even if they did not walk the path of Underworld True Gods, they could be easily controlled.

From this moment, though the Myriad Immortal Palace looked unchanged on the surface, it had already silently changed owners, only Immortal Xingyu didn’t know yet.

Immortal Kumu and Wan Shouque were reporting the Myriad Immortal Palace’s finances to Fang Chen.

Immortal Kumu said, ”Lord, the territory I govern is called Sanfu Star. It is more prosperous than Daoist Yu’s territory. Each year, after deducting expenses, we yield 60 to 80 immortal crystals.”

By expenses, he meant the revenues distributed to the second and first transformations under his command, and unavoidable losses—such as treasures lost in battles or medicine for the wounded.

Wan Shouque added, ”The domain I govern is called Beichen. Each year, after expenses, it yields 50 to 70 immortal crystals.”

He continued, ”Immortal Xingyu grants us Guardian True Immortals a salary of ten crystals a year, just enough to cover consumption while still allowing some cultivation growth.”

”As for the second-transformations, their territories barely make a little over ten immortal crystals.

”A first-transformation Loose Immortal makes only three to five immortal crystals a year. The palace does not interfere. Their salary is one immortal crystal every three years.

”In total, after expenses, counting Xi Zian’s old territory and Daoist Yu’s, we generate about six hundred immortal crystals on net income per year. This entire surplus ultimately ends up in the hands of Immortal Xingyu. She likely keeps only part of it, while the bulk must be handed to her master, Immortal Taixu of the Nanqing Constellation, a half-step Ancient Immortal.”

Fang Chen nodded.

According to the report, the Myriad Immortal Palace was not as comfortable as it appeared.

But Immortal Xingyu was doing much better than these lower rank immortals—third, second, and first transformations, or even fourth-transformation experts like Immortal Kumu and Wan Shouque.

As the leader of the Myriad Immortal Palace, Immortal Xingyu at least had had enough crystals to balance her books and still save enough to reach the peak of the fifth transformation and possibly advance to the sixth.

It all seemed to hinge on Immortal Taixu being her backing.

In the Ancient Desolate Realm, any force that knew this would often grant the Myriad Immortal Palace much leeway.

Even a half-step Ancient Immortal held such deterrence, let alone a true seventh transformation Ancient Immortal. Such figures led deep-rooted powers, capable of supplying the immense resources they required.

Even those too aloof to manage such things would be welcomed as consecrated patrons or guest elders of major sects, enjoying the treatment they deserved.

Immortal Taixu was not merely reaping benefits. His disciple Ji Gang had been placed in the Enlightenment God Palace. That was surely his work. And his close ties to that palace explained why Li Shanzi had appeared at the Immortal Exchange, fighting for that ancient immortal body on his behalf.

Pull one thread, and the whole fabric moves!

If Fang Chen had openly opposed the Myriad Immortal Palace once his strength was sufficient, he would not be facing Immortal Xingyu alone, but Immortal Taixu behind her, and the Enlightenment God Palace behind him.

Fang Chen gave it some thought, then ordered, ”From now on, set aside a hundred crystals of the total annual surplus and deliver it to Daoist Yu.”

Immortal Kumu and Wan Shouque exchanged glances, then let out a breath of relief and nodded together.

A mere hundred crystals could be easily covered up.

Immortal Xingyu hardly checked the ledgers herself. Even for a fifth transformation expert, auditing such accounts would drain too much effort.

Fang Chen looked at Yu Tingzhai and concluded, ”In the future, that hundred crystals, along with the annual surplus from Creation Star after its required tribute to the palace, will be distributed to you and your subordinates. So long as they still have physical bodies in the Nine Mortal Realms, they may receive a share.”

Yu Tingzhai nodded. ”I know how to proceed.”

For the time being, matters of the Myriad Immortal Palace were settled. Fang Chen kept to the appointed time and went to Biluo City, to the place agreed upon with Ning Beiyou and the others.

***

The same teahouse where Lin Bao had once been converted.

As soon as Fang Chen stepped inside, Xu Nangui’s questioning voice greeted him.

”Daoist Fang, you owe us an explanation.”