Immortal of the Nine Realms

The master of this Black Dragon ship possessed cultivation far beyond that of Li Shanzi or the young man. He was no different from a human, save for two dragon horns sprouting from his head.

His aura faintly resembled that of Long Wu from before. He was very likely a true dragon.

Fang Chen thought quietly to himself, A fifth-transformation Immortal.... With such strength, in the Lower Six Realms, unless an Ancient Immortal or a sixth-transformation Immortal emerges, he would already stand among the top echelon. And being a core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace, his rank must be far above even that of Immortal Xingyu.

Li Shanzi’s expression was extremely respectful. ”Senior Brother Nanming.”

The young man beside him cupped his hands. ”Fifth Senior Brother, have you seen Third Senior Sister around here?”

Nanming Ruyue cast a cold glance at him. ”Ji Sheng, you’ve only just become a core disciple. You shouldn’t be taking part in this Forbidden Zone War.”

Ji Sheng pondered for a moment, then pointed calmly at the man beside him. ”This is my clansman from the Minor Immortal Realm, Ji Tianjun. Though our two family branches haven’t been in touch for years, my cousin’s talent is outstanding. He’s already joined my Blackwater Expedition Team. I heard there’s a Grand World Immortal Path here, so I wanted to help him fight for it.”

Nanming Ruyue looked toward Ji Tianjun, his eyes sharp and appraising. ”You’re from the Minor Immortal Realm? What’s your name?”

”Ji Tianjun,” answered Ji Tianjun while bowing.

Nanming Ruyue nodded slightly. ”You haven’t chosen an Immortal Path yet. Your ambitions must be great. But since you’re from the Minor Immortal Realm and haven’t selected a True Immortal Path, that means you’ve yet to qualify to touch it. Choosing the Grand World Immortal Path isn’t a bad alternative.”

Ji Tianjun lowered his head humbly. It was clear that in front of the fifth-ranked core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace, even someone from the Minor Immortal Realm lost all sense of superiority.

Ji Sheng couldn’t help but ask, ”Fifth Senior Brother, is Third Senior Sister truly not in Ancient Forbidden Zone No.157?”

Nanming Ruyue waved a hand casually. ”Our Enlightenment God Palace currently controls 23 Ancient Forbidden Zones. Everyone’s busy. Third Senior Sister has no time to come here, nor will she. The matter of this zone has already been handed over to Big Senior Sister for decision-making. Our duty is to assist her and crush every enemy in our way. According to the Elders’ estimates, this Ancient Forbidden Zone No.157 may yield over 20 Formation Hearts.”

”Hiss!”

”20 Formation Hearts?!”

Li Shanzi and Ji Sheng both sucked in a sharp breath, and Fang Chen noticed that even the nearby immortals looked astonished.

From this brief exchange, Fang Chen gathered several key pieces of information.

First, this Senior Brother Nanming was indeed the same Fifth Senior Brother Li Shanzi had once mentioned.

Back then, Li Shanzi said Ji Sheng followed their third senior sister, while he himself followed their fifth senior brother. That confirmed that there was a strict hierarchy even among the core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace.

Second, within the palace existed certain figures known as Elders, and it was highly likely that they were Ancient Immortals.

Third, Nanming Ruyue’s attitude toward those from the Minor Immortal Realm carried the same subtle condescension Fang Chen had once seen from the cultivators of the Qingyu Immortal Sect toward himself—an air of superiority, laced with disdain so natural that its wielder no longer even noticed it.

By rights, the Minor Immortal Realm, though not on par with the Major Immortal Realm, had once been part of it. Its inhabitants were the so-called True Immortals of the ancient age, when mortals from the Nine Human Realms could only ascend to the Immortal Realm to achieve immortality.

So where did Nanming Ruyue’s sense of superiority come from? From the Enlightenment God Palace itself, or from the very fact that he hailed from the Upper Three Realms?

”The Formation Heart... what exactly is that? Heart... Formation....”

Fang Chen’s mind flashed back to the battle between Li Shanzi and Ji Sheng against the Rulai Monastery.

Immortal Boats merging through their cores, forming a Black Dragon.

Immortal Boats merging through their cores, forming a Thousand Armed Guanyin.

Could the Formation Heart their Fifth Senior Brother mentioned be related to those?

He couldn’t yet be sure what the item was, but one thing was clear. It was of immense importance. It might even be the true value hidden within these Ancient Forbidden Zones. Otherwise, why would even a fifth-transformation Immortal, upon hearing the words Formation Heart, begin to breathe more heavily with barely contained excitement?

”If Third Senior Sister isn’t coming...” Ji Sheng frowned slightly. ”Then that complicates things. Big Senior Sister isn’t exactly easy to talk to. She might not agree to give up the Grand World Immortal Path.”

”First, the Grand World Immortal Path isn’t guaranteed to fall into our hands. Second, our odds of winning this Ancient Forbidden Zone War are only around twenty percent. But since you’re already here, you’ll have to follow us to meet Big Senior Sister and regroup with her first.”

”The Blood and Flesh Divine Palace, Taiyi Immortal Sect, Ten Thousand Star Palace, Rulai Monastery, Spirit God Sect, and Killing Spiritual Division... they’ve all sent core disciples this time. Some of them are extremely difficult to deal with. Even Big Senior Sister has suffered setbacks against a few of them.

”And besides them, there are smaller factions hoping to seize their share. Their Formation Hearts may not be strong, and few among them can wield formation-based immortal arts, but their presence can still alter the tide of battle. Don’t underestimate them.”

After speaking, Nanming Ruyue turned to Ji Tianjun. ”You people of the Minor Immortal Realm have always looked down on the formation arts of the Upper Three Realms. If you joined Ji Sheng’s Blackwater Expedition Team only to pursue the Grand World Immortal Path, then even if you obtain it, I won’t support Ji Sheng in helping you claim it.”

Ji Tianjun smiled calmly. ”In truth, I also believe the elders of the Minor Immortal Realm are far too rigid. Such stubbornness does no good for the pursuit of the Great Dao. This time, by leaving the Minor Immortal Realm and joining Ji Sheng’s Blackwater Team, I intended to broaden my horizons. If possible, I’d like to see whether I can become a core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace myself, to walk this path of formations.”

”That’s a fine mindset.” Nanming Ruyue nodded in approval. ”The Elders also hope you people from the Minor Immortal Realm can step out of that small world and witness how vast the heavens and earth truly are. This isn’t the past anymore; the age is advancing. We cultivators have endured countless tribulations to reach this point. Change is necessary. The Formation Path forged by the Upper Three Realms is the core of all future Daos.”

Nanming Ruyue inclined his head slightly. ”Now, let’s move out together. We’ll continue deeper into the Ancient Forbidden Zone and try to find Big Senior Sister as soon as possible. This Forbidden Zone War may last for years, so prepare yourselves mentally.”

Several massive expedition teams advanced through the starry void, joining forces when facing enemies, and merging with allies to grow stronger.

Fang Chen’s soul had already returned to his body, yet a question lingered in his heart.

Formation Path?

Could it be that such a combat system hadn’t existed before, and that it was something newly developed by the ever-evolving Upper Three Realms? If so, then the difference between the Upper Three Realms and Lower Six Realms was truly vast. They might already be walking at the forefront of immortal civilization itself.

But at the heart of it all lay one key... The Formation Heart.

Many eyes were already watching, and he couldn’t yet consult Mirror of the Universe for information about it. But within this massive convoy, he still had a master he could rely on.