Immortal of the Nine Realms

Following the direction Zhang Chen was pointing, the others finally noticed the figure standing behind Little Immortal Honglian at the peak of Black Phoenix Mountain. It was none other than Fang Daoist, the ”country bumpkin” from the Lower Six Realms.

”Unbelievable, how did Daoist Fang manage to do that?” one Dao Union Realm cultivator gasped, his eyes wide with amazement.

”This must be some kind of escape technique...” someone guessed.

”An escape technique we’ve never seen before?” exclaimed another.

”You all might be underestimating the Lower Six Realms too much,” mused another cultivator. ”Yes, its heritage is far inferior to that of the Upper Three Realms, but for Daoist Fang to come here at all, you can imagine the kind of cost the force behind him had paid.”

”Hmm...”

Of course they could imagine, but none of them wanted to think about it. After all, an invitation for the Upper Three Realms—especially one issued by the Enlightenment God Palace—could reach as high as a hundred immortal crystals. For cultivators like them, a single immortal crystal was a fortune they could only dream of, much less a hundred.

Even the vast Qingyu Immortal Sect, with its countless immortal mountains and innumerable properties, only earned a few high-grade spirit stones annually after deducting their expenses. These were then converted into immortal crystals, with only a couple landing in the hands of Immortal Qingyu.

”Daoist Fang must have a Loose Immortal standing behind him, one even stronger than the ancestor.”

”A figure like that surely knows techniques we haven’t encountered before,” another agreed.

”If Little Immortal Honglian hadn’t been so arrogant, claiming that stepping onto the summit counts as winning, Daoist Fang might not have succeeded in taking the mountain.”

”You could say the Qingyu Immortal Sect got lucky. If Little Immortal Honglian wants to seize the mountain, she will have to wait for five more years. Daoist Fang can stay at Black Phoenix Mountain for those five years.”

It was indeed a good deal, but not for Qingyu Immortal Sect. It was Fang Chen who had benefited.

Anger flashed in Hua Yunfeng’s eyes. Fang Chen had taken back what was once seized from him personally. What would people think of him once this started spreading. How would ignorant outsiders judge the matter?

Comparing the two, Hua Yunfeng, who was the most likely heir to Qingyu Immortal Sect’s inheritance, would appear like a joke.

Hua Yunfeng cursed. Damned Little Immortal Honglian! If not for your arrogance, would we be in this embarrassing situation right now?

The cultivators of Hongli Immortal Sect, who had been in seclusion on Black Phoenix Mountain, had also noticed Fang Chen’s presence. Their faces alternated between shock and disbelief.

Cultivators watching from all sides began to realize what had happened.

”The cultivator from Qingyu Immortal Sect, who was vying for the mountain... he’s standing behind Senior Hong!”

”How did he avoid the Fiery Phoenix?”

At the peak of Black Phoenix Mountain, not far from Little Immortal Honglian, were six or seven figures at the Dao Union Realm. They exchanged glances, their faces displaying a mix of surprise, astonishment, and disbelief.

”Daoist Hong, based on your rules, I’ve won this battle for the mountain, right?” asked Fang Chen.

Little Immortal Honglian turned to look at him. Her expression remained calm, with no sign of anger over losing the mountain. Instead, there was a hint of doubt.

She asked, ”Was that an escape technique?”

Seeing Fang Chen nod, she acknowledged, ”This time, I was careless. Five years from now, I will return to seize the mountain. I hope you are still guarding it at that time.”

After saying that, she summoned her disciples from her sect. Without further hesitation, they packed up and left Black Phoenix Mountain.

The rogue cultivators who made a living on Black Phoenix Mountain witnessed this scene, exchanging puzzled glances.

That’s it? The mountain changed owners just like that?

”Ah... I wonder if Qingyu Immortal Sect will raise the rent for the cave dwellings?” one cultivator mused.

”Of course they will. They only have five years to control the mountain. They’ll rake in whatever they can while it’s still theirs.”

”Yeah, but they better not go too far. If they do, we’ll just leave.”

”Let’s disperse.”

These rogue cultivators couldn’t really care less who owned the Black Phoenix Mountain. What they cared about was whether these changes would affect their interests.

Only the market leaders who maintained a good relationship with the Hongli Immortal Sect were wracked with worry. They had once allied themselves with Hua Yunfeng, then switched allegiance to Little Immortal Honglian once the situation turned bad.

They didn’t fear the retaliation of the Qingyu Immortal Sect itself. What they feared was Hua Yunfeng’s displeasure, and the other Dao Union Realm cultivators. They could very well sabotage them with petty tricks.

Zhang Chen and the others had already reached the summit of Black Phoenix Mountain, accompanying Fang Chen as they explored the area.

Little Immortal Honglian had stripped the spiritual gathering formation of its core before departing, rendering it useless.

The bamboo houses and cave dwellings were also empty, cleaned out thoroughly.

However, Zhang Chen and the others didn’t mind. In fact, they were excited—particularly the middle and lower-tier cultivators who had come just to watch the spectacle. They were now eagerly considering settling in Black Phoenix Mountain.

”I never expected this mountain to return to our sect,” said Yu Huan, the most senior cultivator among them and the one closest to the Tribulation Realm.

A hint of emotion was evident in his tone.

Hua Yunfeng, who had remained silent until now, sneered. ”Taking advantage of the situation is fine, but it’s only for five years. It’s better than nothing, I suppose.”

”Daoist Hua, you can’t say that,” said Yu Huan with a smile. ”Our successful capture of the mountain is a way of saving face.”

Hua Yunfeng didn’t intend to argue. Instead, he turned and gazed into the distance, his hands clasped behind his back.

Someone suggested, ”This name, Black Phoenix Mountain, can no longer be used. Should we rename it?”

Several of Hua Yunfeng’s allies shook their heads. One of them spoke up, ”What’s the point of renaming it? In five years, it’ll be Black Phoenix Mountain again. It’ll just be embarrassing when they change it back. It’s better to keep the name, that way people will say our sect is magnanimous and doesn’t fret about these small details.”

”Let’s just keep it Black Phoenix Mountain,” said Hua Yunfeng with a light smile. ”If we want to rename it, we’ll do it after I personally reclaim it. Then, we can change it at will.”

The others exchanged glances but did not object to Hua Yunfeng’s words.

At that moment, Zhang Chen noticed Fang Chen’s silence. He turned to him, cupped his hands, and said, ”Congratulations, Elder Fang. Now that you’ve won, you’ll soon become an elder, and you can choose a spiritual mountain within the sect to take over.”

”All the spiritual mountains within the sect already have guardians. Who’s going to give up theirs for Elder Fang?” said Hua Yunfeng.

He swept his gaze around and pointed to one person at random. ”Will you do it?”

He turned his attention to another. ”Or maybe you will?”

Whenever his focus shifted to someone, their eyes would quickly dart around, pretending not to be there.

Hua Yunfeng turned to Zhang Chen with a playful smile. ”Why not spare one for him, Daoist Zhang?”

Zhang Chen’s expression shifted slightly. He replied coolly, ”I only guard one mountain. If I give it up, where will I go? You must be joking.”

”So you admit it’s just a joke? Easy to talk big when you’re not the one paying the price,” Hua Yunfeng sneered.

He then pointed to the ground. ”Since Daoist Fang won this spiritual mountain, he should naturally be the one to guard it. Black Phoenix Mountain’s spiritual energy ranks among the best in the Qingyu Immortal Sect. Its environment is at least three times denser than the mountain Daoist Zhang guards. Guarding this mountain is nothing short of a blessing for Daoist Fang.”

Hua Yunfeng secretly scoffed. It’s all going to be gone five years from now anyway. Once the mountain is taken away from him, let’s see if he has the face to stay in the sect. Once he’s gone, that quota for the Enlightenment God Palace is going to be rightfully mine.

The cultivators exchanged glances, silently contemplating. Whether or not Fang Chen would guard Black Phoenix Mountain now depended entirely on him.