Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Black Phoenix Mountain is not bad at all. The scenery is beautiful, and there are a lot of spiritual veins, springs, and fields,” said Fang Chen with a light smile.

He nodded. ”I’ll guard it then.”

Hua Yunfeng smiled and nodded. ”That’s a great choice.”

He then glanced at the others and said, ”The mountain-seizing battle was a success. We can return to report, inform the ancestor, and bring Elder Fang his token of appointment.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Zhang Chen casually suggested, ”Elder Fang has just arrived and has no subordinates yet. Should we leave a few people behind to tidy the place up? We should also gather the people around the mountainside and at the base to establish some rules.”

”We’ll go back and select a few people to send over, following the standard procedures,” said Hua Yunfeng. ”Pick one at the Fusion Realm, two at the Soul Splitting Realm, four at the Enlightenment Realm, and five hundred within the Lower Four Realms.”

Zhang Chen turned to Fang Chen and asked, ”Would you like to screen the candidates personally, Elder Fang?”

Hua Yunfeng immediately interrupted, ”What’s there to screen? Elder Fang is new here. He doesn’t know much about the sect. We’ll choose people for him and have them sent over. That saves him the trouble.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Daoist Hua is right. You guys can decide on the selection freely.”

Seeing Fang Chen so easygoing, everyone began secretly making plans. The mountain had high annual profits. Although Fang Chen would only stay five years, they were eager to send their trusted subordinates to reap some of the benefits.

***

About half a month later, Zhang Chen sent a group of cultivators to Black Phoenix Mountain.

Over five hundred cultivators stood respectfully before Fang Chen. They bowed in unison, eyes filled with curiosity, and said, ”Greetings, Elder Fang!”

They had all been astonished when they learned that the Qingyu Immortal Sect had reclaimed Black Phoenix Mountain. Their curiosity only grew when they discovered that it was all thanks to a native of the Lower Six Realms.

As promised, the Qingyu Immortal Sect had sent one cultivator at the Fusion Realm, two at the Soul Splitting Realm, and four at the Enlightenment Realm.

Fang Chen nodded lightly, acknowledging them before allowing them to choose their caves at the mountain peak. He handed the subsequent arrangements over to the Fusion Realm cultivator, letting them liaise with the cultivators at the mountainside and base.

After the group dispersed, Zhang Chen gazed at the surrounding scenery with a hint of regret. ”I thought it would take at least a hundred to two hundred years to reclaim Black Phoenix Mountain. I didn’t expect it to return to Qingyu Immortal Sect so quickly.”

He glanced at Fang Chen with a smile. ”Elder Fang, are you really not going to get involved in the management of Black Phoenix Mountain? A mountain like this contains far more than what you see on the surface—there are many hidden benefits.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Once we reach the Dao Union Realm, there’s no need to chase after petty profits. It’s better to focus on understanding the Dao.”

Zhang Chen was momentarily stunned, then rubbed his nose.

It sounded easy enough, but without these profits and the resources they brought, they wouldn’t have reached this point at all, let alone think about the road ahead. However, he also understood that someone of Fang Chen’s status in the Lower Six Realms surely had no shortage of cultivation resources.

Hua Yunfeng and others might have treated him as a bumpkin, but deep down, they knew that this ”bumpkin” was far wealthier and more powerful than they were. There was bound to be some jealousy.

”These people are quite complicated,” mused Zhang Chen. ”If you have the heart, you can keep an eye on them. If you really don’t want to get involved in the management, then let them do as they wish. But rest assured, the annual salary of five high-grade spirit stones will be delivered to you without an issue.”

As he spoke, Zhang Chen handed Fang Chen a jade token. ”This is the sect’s jade token. Not only does it show your identity, but if you’re ever in danger, you can crush it, and the sect will sense it. As long as it’s not too far away, it may save your life.”

”Thank you, Daoist Zhang.”

Fang Chen took the jade token and casually tossed it into the Pifu Sand.

Once Zhang Chen left, Fang Chen smiled faintly and said, ”That Little Immortal Honglian, she might be from the Killing Spiritual Division.”

Behind him, Huang Wujie stood silently. He had been here even before Zhang Chen left, but with his fourth-transformation cultivation, Zhang Chen couldn’t detect him.

”The Loose Immortal who left earlier entered a teleportation array, so I didn’t follow her further,” said Huang Wujie. ”Your safety is paramount, so I’ll stay close.”

Huang Wujie’s identity as a True God of the Underworld aside. As a Sword Immortal, Fang Chen’s existence was even more important than Huang Wujie’s own life. In the vast Nine Mortal Realms, only Fang Chen possessed the Sword Immortal Path. As long as he remained, the sword cultivators would thrive.

”No worries,” said Fang Chen, smiling faintly. ”As for the Spirit God Sect and the Killing Spiritual Division, I came to the Upper Three Realms for a much more important matter. This matter takes priority, and nothing can compare to it right now.”

He paused, then added, ”There’s no need to actively gather intel on these two factions. Both have existed for many years and have fought for many more. There won’t be any major changes in the short term.”

Huang Wujie nodded. ”I’ll head down to the market at the foot of the mountain then.”

”Don’t reveal your identity.”

”Don’t worry. This is one of my specialties.”

Without another word, Huang Wujie walked down the mountain, casually waving his hand. As he walked, his appearance changed, his aura plummeting rapidly until it matched a Lower Four Realms cultivator.

***

Half a year passed.

During that time, Fang Chen encountered two lightning tribulations, both of which were immediately dissipated by the Forgotten River. They hadn’t even had the chance to descend.

In these six months, the Fusion Realm cultivator Lin Congyun, whom Hua Yunfeng had arranged to manage Black Phoenix Mountain, kept everything in order.

Although there might have been some issues with the accounts, at least the surface work was done properly. He also took the initiative to submit the accounts for Fang Chen to review, but Fang Chen never once looked at them.

This attitude made Lin Congyun act even more respectfully in front of Fang Chen. For someone who couldn’t be bothered with profits, all it took was a little respect to make this a very worthwhile deal.

In these six months, there was little change in the cultivation of Fang Tianzun and the other two. This short period of time was too brief for Loose Immortals; unless they suddenly consumed a special heaven-grade treasure, the fluctuation in their cultivation would be minimal.

Days passed by.

From time to time, Huang Wujie sent back some information, mostly about the Langgui Constellation. Occasionally, there was also some information about the Enlightenment God Palace.

Unknowingly, it had been almost five years since Little Immortal Honglian had ceded Black Phoenix Mountain. When she left, she had mentioned that she would come back to take the mountain in five years, and that was certainly no empty threat.

Hua Yunfeng arrived at the top of Black Phoenix Mountain and sat in the bamboo building, sipping the spirit tea Lin Congyun had made.

”Has Elder Fang really not taken care of anything regarding Black Phoenix Mountain these past few years?” asked Hua Yunfeng casually.

After receiving Lin Congyun’s affirmative answer, Hua Yunfeng couldn’t help but sneer. ”Such a lazy manager. He probably brought a lot of spirit stones from the Lower Six Realms.”

Lin Congyun lowered his head, not responding. He knew better than to comment on matters regarding Dao Union Realm cultivators.

”I’ve received word that Little Immortal Honglian will arrive in about two months. You need to intensify your efforts,” said Hua Yunfeng.

Lin Congyun thought for a moment before replying in a low voice, ”The cultivators here have grown dissatisfied in recent years. If we escalate things further, it may lead to rebellion.”

”What’s there to be afraid of?” Hua Yunfeng sneered. ”As long as they still want to stay here, they won’t dare to act recklessly.”

Just as his words fell, Hua Yunfeng’s expression suddenly changed, and his heart couldn’t help but tremble.

His face grew serious, and he looked out toward the bamboo building.

”It looks like it’s too late. She’s already here.”