Immortal of the Nine Realms

The cultivators of Black Phoenix Mountain exchanged looks, their disbelief evident.

She... left just like that?

Little Immortal Honglian had never suffered a defeat in the Dao Union Realm. She was a monstrous talent. At least in the nearby region, among dozens of sects with comparable backgrounds to the Honglian Immortal Sect, there had never been a cultivator who could defeat Little Immortal Honglian at the same cultivation level!

”What kind of genius has Qingyu Immortal Sect taken in this time?”

”We may need to... change our plans. Qingyu Immortal Sect might very well produce an Enlightenment God Palace cultivator in twenty-five years.”

”In that case, we must ensure we’re on good terms. What’s a little loss if we can establish a relationship with a prospective Enlightenment God Palace cultivator?”

***

Fang Chen returned to the group. Zhang Chen and the others stepped forward and cupped their hands in congratulations.

Hua Yunfeng reluctantly stepped forward and cupped his hands. ”Daoist Fang, you’ve truly opened my eyes with your methods. I never expected you to defeat the same-realmed Little Immortal Honglian.”

”I barely squeezed a win,” replied Fang Chen humbly, smiling.

Little Immortal Honglian’s combat power was truly high. If he hadn’t allowed Fang Tianzun, Fang Xuan Yang, or Fang Renjian to condense their Daos, if he didn’t use the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture, and if Little Immortal Honglian were ten times stronger, she might have been able to exchange a few real blows with him.

Lin Congyun and the others didn’t have the qualification to approach, so they could only stand far off, silently observing Fang Chen.

Only at this moment did they realize how terrifying this seemingly easygoing guardian from the Lower Six Realms was—the man who ignored worldly affairs, spent all day in seclusion, and had spoken only a few words to Lin Congyun in five full years.

Zhang Chen teased, ”Daoist Fang, I thought your chances of victory didn’t exceed thirty percent?”

Fang Chen chuckled. ”I never fought her seriously before, so I didn’t know the extent of her power. I could only make a conservative estimate.”

After a brief pause, his gaze fell on Lin Congyun, standing not too far away. Lin Congyun felt a chill run through his body as their eyes met.

After chatting with the others for a while, Fang Chen bid farewell and returned to his usual meditation room.

Seeing this, Hua Yunfeng and the others gradually left as well. Hua Yunfeng was the last to leave. As he was about to depart, he called Lin Congyun over and said, ”Make sure to communicate with Elder Fang more about everything happening in Black Phoenix Mountain. Some of those actions of ours... are no longer necessary.”

Lin Congyun looked at him with a strange expression.

”What are you looking at?” Hua Yunfeng snorted coldly. ”I’m not a fool. With his strength, opposing him is no different from suicide. Do I look like a suicidal madman to you? And as for the benefits we’ve made over the last five years, return them.”

”What if he doesn’t want them?”

”Whether he wants them or not, just give everything back. This time, the assessment of the Enlightenment God Palace should have nothing to do with me. I’ll just have to wait for the next one. You, on the other hand, have a chance to interact more with him. In a few decades, he’ll be an Enlightenment God Palace cultivator.”

Over the next five years, the order in Black Phoenix Mountain gradually returned to the way it was when Little Immortal Honglian was in charge.

The leaders of various market districts found it strange, but since they could contribute fewer spirit stones, they were naturally happy and didn’t raise any objections.

When the second five-year period ended, Hua Yunfeng and the others arrived at Black Phoenix Mountain one after another.

They saw Little Immortal Honglian again.

This time, in the battle for the mountain, Little Immortal Honglian’s strength had improved by at least a third compared to the last time. However, she still narrowly lost to Fang Chen.

After this battle, Hua Yunfeng and the others’ view of the Lower Six Realms began to slowly change.

At the foot of Black Phoenix Mountain, in a medium-sized market, Fang Chen visited a shop that specialized in selling spiritual materials. After chatting with the shopkeeper for a while, he went to the backyard.

”Within the Langgui Constellation, the Enlightenment God Palace indeed has an Ancient Immortal stationed there,” said Huang Wuji. ”From the information I’ve gathered, this Ancient Immortal might not be at the seventh transformation, but eighth.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”There are not many paths in the Nine Mortal Realms that can reach the eight transformation.”

”Have you heard any news about the Immortal Changkong?”

”No, but I have heard news about the Immortal Taixu,” said Huang Wuji with a strange expression. ”The Enlightenment God Palace is opening doors to recruit disciples in the Langgui Constellation. All the forces are planning their moves. The number of cultivators participating in the assessment will likely exceed a million.”

”Out of a million, they will only select twenty. Immortal Taixu is the chief overseer of this assessment.”

”A half-step Ancient Immortal is in charge of this assessment? They really have high requirements for their disciples,” said Fang Chen with a smile.

”Not a half-step Ancient Immortal.” Huang Wuji smiled faintly. ”It’s a real Ancient Immortal. He has already ascended to the seventh transformation.”

Fang Chen fell silent for a moment, then gently nodded. ”It seems Li Shanzi didn’t manage to capture the Golden Body of that Ancient Immortal at the Immortal Exchange to obtain the Immortal Register. The Enlightenment God Palace must have found another way to get Taixu his Immortal Register.”

”Your Highness, Immortal Registers seem very difficult to obtain. In the future...”

”If you die, you won’t need an Immortal Register. The True Gods of the Underworld will be your Immortal Register. If you live to reach the sixth transformation, I’ll use all my power to get you an Immortal Register and become an Ancient Immortal,” replied Fang Chen with a light smile.

Huang Wuji’s eyes brightened. ”Thank you, lord.”

He finally understood what it felt like to have the support of a powerful figure. Had it not been for the unexpected events in the past, he might still be a third-transformation Sword Immortal with no path to advance to the fourth transformation.

Fang Chen said, ”Immortal Taixu might be related to the disappearance of the Seventh Transformation Ancient Immortal stationed by the Killing Spiritual Division in the Ancient Desolate Realm. The higher-ups of the Killing Spiritual Division are investigating this matter, but they can’t act too openly, afraid of breaking relations.

”Because of this, Huang Qingque had no choice but to disband Xie Zhi and return to the Upper Three Realms in disgrace. As for the news about Immortal Taixu, keep an ear out, but make sure to prioritize your own safety.”

With that, he rose and left.

***

Five more years passed in the blink of an eye.

This was Little Immortal Honglian’s third attempt. After half an hour of intense battle, she once again suffered a narrow defeat.

After the first two defeats, she usually left immediately. However, this time she didn’t leave. She looked at Fang Chen with a strange expression.

”Have you been holding back all this time?”

”Me? No, there’s no such thing.” Fang Chen gently shook his head. ”I’ve been giving it my all in all of our fights. If I hold back even a little, I might lose.”

The suspicion didn’t fade from her eyes.

She had increased her strength again, this time using a secret technique. Yet, she had still lost.

Normally, five years shouldn’t raise a cultivator’s battle power by much. But he... was still slightly stronger?

”I’ll be back in five years.”