Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Interesting.”

A figure slowly materialized in the void. The dagger was floating around him, as if it had a life of its own. This person was thin, with a long face, squinted eyes, and lips that were a dark shade of black.

Before he made a move, Little Immortal Honglian hadn’t even sensed his presence.

Little Immortal Honglian’s expression darkened. She coldly said, ”You’re Zuo He of the Divine Light Sect.”

”Heh heh...” Zuo He let out a strange laugh. ”That’s right, it’s me. You know who I am? But I don’t know you. We could have had a nice little chat just now, but someone just had to meddle and ruin the moment.”

Little Immortal Honglian sent a voice transmission to Fang Chen, ”He’s from the Divine Light Sect, one of the five legendary sects. It specializes in escape techniques. His escape techniques are probably comparable to yours.”

When Fang Chen first claimed a mountain, he had relied on his escape technique. Given how Zuo He had approached them undetected, she subconsciously assumed their escape techniques were equal.

Yu Wuxia, Lin Yuan, Meng Qingling, and the others were also drawn to the commotion. When they saw Zuo He, an expression of disgust and faint wariness appeared in their eyes at the same time.

Zuo He laughed strangely and said, ”May I ask for your name, Fellow Daoist? Among my Langgui Constellation peers, my escape techniques are second to none. Even someone like Yu Wuxia can’t see through them. I am rather curious about your background now, since you could see through my technique. Perhaps we should have a proper exchange.”

Before Fang Chen could respond, Little Immortal Honglian had already unleashed Fiery Phoenix, launching an attack at Zuo He.

”I was just having a conversation with this Daoist friend. How could you attack me out of nowhere like that! Isn’t that a bit too underhanded?” Zuo He shrieked.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace.

Having lost its target, Fiery Phoenix swirled around in the air in confusion.

Little Immortal Honglian grew wary, blazing flames coiling around her.

If Zuo He closed in again, it would be bad for her.

Suddenly, Fang Chen reached out and caught a dagger out of thin air.

Sparks flew from the sharp dagger as it strained to pierce his skin, but its blade couldn’t even scratch Fang Chen, whose Sword Body had reached the eighth rank.

His Sword Body had already surpassed most body refinement cultivation techniques.

The dagger, like an eel, attempted to slip from Fang Chen’s grip, wanting to disappear into the void once more after its failed strike. But in the next moment, Fang Chen reached out with his other hand and pulled Zuo He from the void, lifting him up.

Zuo He was utterly shocked. Before he could force out another eerie laugh, a fist fell like a hammer repeatedly on his head.

The laugh died in Zuo He’s throat.

His spiritual energy surged, but his spiritual barrier shattered immediately under the onslaught.

Clang, clang, clang!

Zuo He’s aura grew weaker and weaker. After a while, he was no more than a limp, lifeless ragdoll. Fang Chen casually tossed him aside after taking away his jade token and seizing the strand of spiritual energy inside.

His jade token’s aura bolstered slightly, but its color didn’t change.

Fang Chen said, ”Daoist Hong, he may have something useful on him. If you’re interested, feel free to take it.”

Little Immortal Honglian snapped out of her daze. Someone on her level had died just like that.

This confirmed her previous guess—Fang Chen had been holding back when fighting her during their mountain-seizing battles.

When she went to pick up Zuo He’s storage ring, Yu Wuxia and the others finally recovered from their daze as well.

The way they looked at Fang Chen was strange. It was a mix of scrutiny, doubt, and schadenfreude.

”Daoist, the Divine Light Sect has two hundred and forty people participating. By killing Zuo He, you’ve probably made things a bit difficult for yourself,” someone said.

Before he finished speaking, a burst of light suddenly erupted in the void. Over ten Dao Union Realm cultivators launched a deadly attack on Fang Chen all at once.

Seeing that, Little Immortal Honglian immediately transformed into a fiery phoenix, trying to break through their encirclement and buy Fang Chen some time to react.

However, hardly had she made a move when a burst of icy wind swept across the area. The cultivators were turned into ice sculptures, then shattered into pieces.

In Fang Chen’s eyes, over a dozen lost souls stood motionless, seemingly dazed, including Zuo He.

Fang Chen took the jade tokens from the dead Divine Light Sect cultivators and infused the spiritual energy into his own jade token.

This time, Yu Wuxia and the others looked at him with a new intensity—not mere curiosity, but heavy solemnity and deep fear.

It was also the first time Little Immortal Honglian had seen Fang Chen kill.

In their earlier battles, he had always held back. Each time she lost, she mistakenly believed it had only been by a small margin, never sensing the extent of his true strength.

But now, over ten elite Dao Union Realm cultivators have been wiped out in an instant. Such means far surpassed her own!

Some people no longer watched the spectacle and turned to leave, afraid that the next target might be themselves. After all, there were no true allies in today’s assessment. Everyone was an enemy and a competitor. With one person running, others followed suit. In an instant, aside from a few figures, the area around Fang Chen and Little Immortal Honglian was completely deserted.

The few who remained kept their distance: Yu Wuxia, Lin Yuan, Meng Qingling, and several other cultivators who believed their strength was on par with Yu Wuxia’s.

From far away, Meng Qingling smiled and said, ”Daoist, let’s work together. With my Seven Killing Celestial Soldier Thunderfire Formation and your abilities, we can sweep this place clean. Your companion seems a little lacking—she is not fit to be your partner.”

Little Immortal Honglian frowned. She coldly responded, ”Daoist Meng, you’re welcome to test whether your Seven Killing Celestial Soldier Thunderfire Formation is stronger than my Fiery Phoenix.”

Lin Yuan said slowly, ”Actually... we could cooperate. There are just eighteen spots. With just the few of us, it’s more than enough to divide among ourselves.”

”Cooperate? Forget it. Who doesn’t want a jade token with a different color? I am aiming for the silver jade token, and it’ll take quite a lot to achieve that,” said Yu Wuxia indifferently, glancing at Fang Chen.

He hid the wariness in his eyes and said nothing as he turned and walked away.

Lin Yuan sneered. ”Silver? Not a single silver jade token has appeared in the last three assessments. Yu Wuxia is quite ambitious.”

He turned to Fang Chen and smiled. ”Daoist, what do you think? Shall we cooperate?”

Fang Chen thought for a moment and then said, ”Hand over your jade tokens.”

The remaining few were stunned. Lin Yuan and Meng Qingling’s expressions darkened.

”All I want is the spiritual energy inside. You can keep the jade tokens and just replenish them later,” added Fang Chen.

”Dream on!” Lin Yuan sneered, blood mist seeping from him as he stared at Fang Chen, retreating step by step.

Once he put enough distance between them, he turned around and bolted.

But in the next moment, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Lin Yuan.

He let out a shriek and plummeted toward the ground.