Immortal of the Nine Realms

Seeing so many objections, Immortal Qingyu didn’t get angry. He maintained his friendly smile, but he didn’t speak for a while.

As the voices around him dwindled and the atmosphere grew tense, everyone slowly fell silent.

Immortal Qingyu’s voice rang out again, calm but with an edge. ”When will you all make it easier on me?”

He smiled faintly. ”Among you, there are dozens of Dao Union Realm cultivators—early, middle, late stage—I won’t even bother mentioning them. But among those who have reached grand completion, some have already survived two or three tribulations, some even eight.”

His gaze swept over several Dao Union Realm cultivators, and they all went quiet. He continued, his tone full of mockery. ”Yet you were all beaten so badly by that little girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect. Not only did you disgrace the Qingyu Immortal Sect, but you also disgraced me. You disgraced our ancestors!”

The Dao Union cultivators, including Hua Yunfeng, couldn’t even look him in the eye. The one who had survived eight tribulations, the oldest among them, stood with his head hanging, not daring to speak up. His wrinkled face betrayed his old age, already nearing the end of his lifespan. Even his chance of advancing to the Tribulation Realm was nearly nonexistent.

Thus, from start to finish, he had not voiced any opposition to Fang Chen becoming an elder. He knew his own limits.

Immortal Qingyu chuckled. ”That little girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect, I heard she’s only survived one tribulation. Isn’t that right?”

He paused, his eyes sharp.

”Now Daoist Fang is here, and he is willing to serve as an elder of our sect. He even hopes to join the Enlightenment God Palace one day. Such grand aspirations! And yet, you still refuse to welcome him? How can you be so rude?”

The others fell silent.

Immortal Qingyu’s tone shifted slightly, turning more persuasive. ”If Daoist Fang can defeat that girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect, what’s wrong with appointing him as an elder? Perhaps Daoist Fang could one day truly make it into the Enlightenment God Palace, bringing honor to our sect! The Qingyu Immortal Sect would’ve produced a disciple for the Enlightenment God Palace. What a great blessing for all of us!”

No one said anything.

Hua Yunfeng’s face was a storm of shifting emotions, anger and frustration swirling together.

To him, that quota was rightfully his. He was a native of the Upper Three Realms, after all. How could someone from the Lower Six Realms, someone he considered a bumpkin, snatch it away from him?

Hua Yunfeng hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke up. ”Ancestor... surviving nine tribulations doesn’t increase strength that drastically. Besides, that girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect is unique. She may have only passed one tribulation, but her physique is special. She has the Black Phoenix True Body. Her constitution increases the power of her techniques severalfold.”

A few others nodded in agreement. The Black Phoenix True Body was a legendary and powerful constitution. Even someone who had only survived one tribulation could pose a considerable threat if they possessed such an innate gift.

Immortal Qingyu didn’t seem overly concerned, though. Instead, he smiled knowingly. ”Is that so? Well, we’ll see how powerful this little girl really is when Daoist Fang faces her. After all, no one here has been able to defeat her yet.”

His eyes gleamed with a hint of calculation, clearly eager to see how things would unfold.

Hua Yunfeng clasped his hands and said, ”There are also rumors that she seems to have broken the mystery of her prenatal memories and recovered the memories of her past life. With such an advantage, she is no longer just an ordinary cultivator. It’s only natural that we are no match for her. But that doesn’t mean I won’t have a chance to enter the Enlightenment God Palace thirty years from now.”

”Hua Yunfeng reached the Dao Union perfection in a little over four hundred years,” said a Tribulation Realm cultivator. ”With such talent, he does indeed have a chance to enter the Enlightenment God Palace.”

This person, also surnamed Hua, was a senior of Hua Yunfeng’s.

Fang Chen glanced at Hua Yunfeng. Four hundred years... that’s honestly much younger than me.

He had spent far more than four hundred years cultivating in the Realm of Three Thousand Dao Realms. However, his cultivation method was unique, requiring far more accumulation at each stage than the average cultivator, making any comparison invalid.

However, when it came to raw talent, Hua Yunfeng was likely much better than him.

Fang Chen didn’t mind. What truly intrigued him was that girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect that Hua Yunfeng mentioned.

Breaking the mystery of prenatal memories? Is that a rumor or a proven truth?

If true, then this woman would be similar to Fairy Yu. Was she also implanted with an Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo as well, or was there another reason?

Hua Yunfeng glanced at Fang Chen, who was deep in thought, and suddenly smiled faintly. ”Fang Daoist, taking the quota for the Enlightenment God Palace isn’t that easy. Since the Old Ancestor has such high hopes for you, perhaps you can try. But right now, you are not yet a cultivator of the Qingyu Immortal Sect. Once she hears about that, she may not hold back.”

Immortal Qingyu looked at Fang Chen, smiling faintly. ”There’s a risk of death. Are you willing to try?”

Fang Chen cupped his hands in respect and replied, ”I am!”

Hua Yunfeng smiled, and many Dao Union Realm cultivators also smiled faintly. Only a few had solemn expressions, their faces showing slight hesitation.

”Since you have just arrived, it’s better to rest for a few days before setting off,” said Immortal Qingyu.

He instructed a Dao Union Realm cultivator to take Fang Chen to a meditation chamber for rest.

After the two left, a Dao Union Realm cultivator finally stepped forward with a hesitant expression, cupping his hands and said, ”Ancestor, since he comes from the Lower Six Realms, it indicates that he has some background. If he dies at the hands of the Honglian Immortal Sect, I’m afraid—”

”Since his elders are willing to pay such a hefty price—several hundred immortal crystals to send him to the Upper Three Realms—it shows that they are very optimistic about his talent and potential. Perhaps he truly has a chance to surpass that girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect and restore our sect’s dignity.”

Immortal Qingyu smiled faintly. ”Besides, if he really does die, it will be the Honglian Immortal Sect’s problem, not ours. We’ve made the risks clear.”

The cultivators exchanged glances. Thinking it over, it actually made sense.

***

”Daoist Fang, this meditation chamber has been vacant for many years. You can rest here for the time being,” said the Dao Union Realm cultivator who was showing Fang Chen the way, cupping his hands in respect.

Fang Chen smiled and cupped his hands back. ”Thank you, Daoist Zhang.”

Zhang Chen hesitated for a moment before speaking again. ”Daoist Fang, it wasn’t easy for you to come here. Why put yourself in danger? Instead of staying here, you could leave. The world is vast, and you could wander freely as a rogue cultivator. That might not be a bad idea.”

”Daoist Zhang, is that girl from the Honglian Immortal Sect really that strong?” asked Fang Chen, curious.

Zhang Chen paused, a look of recollection flashing in his eyes. He then shuddered slightly, nodded, and said seriously, ”She’s very strong. Our group of Dao Union Realm cultivators has all fought her before. The one who lasted the longest against her was Daoist Hua. He only lasted ten moves before he was defeated.”

”They exchanged blows?”

”I wouldn’t say that. It was more like a one-sided beatdown.” Zhang Chen sighed. ”We’re elders of the Qingyu Immortal Sect, so the Honglian Immortal Sect is still careful not to kill us. But you’re different. You’re not yet an elder. She will definitely hear about this. If you go up that mountain... we might end up carrying you back down.”

”Don’t worry, I have my ways of protecting myself. Regardless, thank you for your kind reminder, Daoist Zhang,” replied Fang Chen, cupping his hands.

Zhang Chen couldn’t help but shake his head. ”Why bother?”

”Since I’ve come here, I refuse to remain mediocre. The Qingyu Immortal Sect has a quota for the Enlightenment God Palace’s examination, and I want to compete for it.”

Zhang Chen smiled wryly. ”Every cultivator who comes from the Lower Six Realms feels just as spirited at first, full of ambition and determination to compete. But after some time, you’ll understand.”

He then cupped his hands before leaving.

After he departed, Fang Chen used a spell to tidy up the room, then set up a restriction. He released Huang Wuji from the World Gourd.

”Young Master, is this the Upper Three Realms?” asked Huang Wuji, a hint of curiosity appearing on his face.