Immortal of the Nine Realms

Qingming, Black Dragon Boat.

Everyone had already set off on their return journey. But Fang Chen and the others didn’t join the rest of the expedition teams in returning to their respective expedition stars. Instead, they traveled back with Li Shanzi to the real Enlightenment God Palace.

However, contrary to Fang Chen’s expectations, the senior sister had remained behind in the Formless Purgatory. But that was fine. As long as she returned to the Enlightenment God Palace once before heading to the Langgui Constellation, he would have the chance to accompany her there together with Little Immortal Honglian.

At that time, it would naturally be possible to meet Immortal Changkong, and he wouldn’t have to spend immortal crystals or use Mirror of the Universe to purchase information, saving a great deal.

Li Shanzi was not traveling alone but accompanied by more than a dozen core disciples, including Ji Sheng.

Ji Sheng sighed lightly and said, ”Senior Brother Li, my clansman might be in trouble.”

Li Shanzi looked a bit surprised: ”That third-tribulation immortal? What trouble could he possibly have in the Formless Purgatory?”

Ji Sheng replied, ”I don’t know either. He was following me all the way but insisted on exploring alone. Since then, he hasn’t returned.”

Li Shanzi smiled. ”Maybe something delayed him. It’s fine, Senior Sister is still in the Formless Purgatory. If he doesn’t leave within the specified time, at worst, he’ll get punished. No big deal.”

”By the way, how did she respond to the Grand World Immortal Path?”

Ji Sheng thought for a moment, then replied, ”She said she wants to exchange merit points for it. If it’s too expensive, forget it. Although the Grand World Immortal Path is rare, it’s still not as reliable as the Human Immortal or Earth Immortal Paths.”

Li Shanzi chuckled softly. ”Those with ambition won’t choose those paths.”

”My clansman’s ambition reaches the sky,” said Ji Sheng. ”After all, he comes from the Minor Immortal Realm, so it’s normal for him to have high hopes.”

He shook his head. ”When I first came to the Enlightenment God Palace, I wanted to walk a unique Immortal Path as well. But later I realized that food must be eaten one bite at a time, and the path must be walked step by step. Once I advance to the seventh transformation and become an Ancient Immortal and master the Formation Heart, I’ll become a powerhouse of the Nine Mortal Realms. Why chase after those vague, elusive extremes?”

After talking for a while, Ji Sheng suddenly asked, ”What about Sister Hong?”

Li Shanzi pointed to a spot not far away. ”She’s over there. Looks like she hasn’t quite gotten used to being a core disciple yet.”

Little Immortal Honglian was standing at another spot, chatting with Fang Chen and the others, clearly signaling outsiders to keep their distance. Even the second and third transformation immortals from Li Shanzi’s own expedition team kept away.

”It’s definitely hard to get used to at the start,” said Li Shanzi, chuckling. ”It’s like a beggar suddenly becoming an emperor. You don’t forget your friends from the old days in an instant.”

Ji Sheng laughed and nodded. ”Introduce me. I haven’t had many chances to talk with Sister Hong.”

Li Shanzi said with a half-smile, half-teasing tone, ”What, planning to become her Dao partner? You should just think about it. She was promoted right under Senior Sister’s watch and is basically her follower. No matter what you plan, you won’t get past Senior Sister.”

Ji Sheng smiled lightly. ”Don’t put it so crudely. What do you mean by ’planning’? I’m simply socializing. If we get along well, even if we became Dao partners, Senior Sister wouldn’t have a reason to stop us, right?”

Li Shanzi didn’t say more and led Ji Sheng over to Little Immortal Honglian.

”Sister Hong, this is Senior Brother Ji Sheng. You two should get to know each other.”

Lin Yuan and the others quickly bowed to the two core disciples.

She looked at Ji Sheng and cupped her hands respectfully. ”Greetings, Senior Brother Ji.”

Ji Sheng smiled and nodded. ”Don’t be so formal.”

He then casually glanced at Fang Chen and the others before pulling his gaze away. He looked at Little Immortal Honglian and said, ”Sister Hong, you haven’t picked your real team members yet, right? Want me to send some of my people over? These external disciples are getting worse and worse with every batch. Those with real ability are quite sought-after in the Enlightenment God Palace. The senior and junior brothers of various exploration teams compete fiercely over them.”

How could Lin Yuan and the others fail to understand the implication behind Ji Sheng’s words? They understood clearly but didn’t dare say a word. They simply listened.

In any case, Little Immortal Honglian wouldn’t abandon them right now. Even if she changed her mind later, they would have at least broadened their horizons by then.

”I don’t want to trouble Senior Brother Ji,” Xiao Honglian politely declined.

”No trouble, no trouble at all. How about you come sit with me, and I’ll show you the talents I’ve recruited. You can pick a few to use for now.”

Ji Sheng acted as if he didn’t hear the refusal in Xiao Honglian’s words and continued to invite her enthusiastically.

Little Immortal Honglian declined once again.

Ji Sheng’s expression darkened slightly. He didn’t press further, only smiled and nodded, exchanging a few words with Li Shanzi before taking his leave.

After Ji Sheng left, Li Shanzi turned to Little Immortal Honglian with a light smile and said, ”Junior Sister Hong, Junior Brother Ji isn’t particularly broad-minded. It’s mainly because he’s still young. Your repeated refusals probably upset him. Be a little more careful when you meet him from now on.”

After offering a word of advice, he turned to leave as well.

Lin Yuan and the others’ expressions immediately changed, a trace of seriousness and worry appearing in their eyes.

Little Immortal Honglian smiled slightly and reassured them, ”Don’t worry, he’s a core disciple, and so am I. Once I master the Formation Heart, even if we face him head-on, I won’t be much inferior.”

Only then did everyone relax a little.

***

Years passed.

After Li Shanzi and the others returned the Immortal Boats from the various expedition stars to their original regions, they traveled at extreme speed for another year.

Before everyone, a colorful planet gradually appeared.

”We’ve arrived. This is the Enlightenment Star. Apart from the core of the Enlightenment God Palace, no one knows the location of this star.”

A trace of admiration appeared on Li Shanzi’s face. ”Senior Brother Li, is the Enlightenment God Palace the only one here in such a huge star?”

Little Immortal Honglian was visibly moved. Enlightenment Star looked even larger than the Formless Purgatory and far beyond the Langgui Constellation.

”That’s right. Apart from our Enlightenment God Palace members, there are no other cultivators here, only countless mortals,” shared Li Shanzi. ”Many core disciples are actually selected from among them.”

He smiled. ”For you guys, becoming a core disciple is considered a blessing of fate.”

No other cultivators, but many mortals?

Everyone’s expressions shifted. Clearly, these mortals were deliberately protected by the Enlightenment God Palace to be chosen as new blood.

”You must be careful. On Enlightenment Star, unauthorized slaughter of mortals is met with extremely harsh punishment. Even core disciples find this punishment hard to bear. However, if there is a reasonable cause, killing is not forbidden. For example, if a mortal knows your identity and openly insults you, killing them is not considered outrageous, as they have shown clear disrespect.”

Li Shanzi smiled faintly and added, ”But such cases are rare.”

The Black Dragon Boats nearby slowly stopped, then several rainbow beams shot out from Enlightenment Star, landing on the various Black Dragon ships.

In an instant, everyone realized they were no longer in Qingming but on the peak of an immortal mountain. Clouds and mist swirled nearby, faintly revealing countless overlapping and interwoven immortal mountains stretching endlessly.

Li Shanzi said, ”Junior Sister Hong, come with me. As for the rest of you, I’ll have you register first. Afterward, you’ll wait in your respective caves for further arrangements.”

Everyone quickly nodded, then watched Li Shanzi leave with Little Immortal Honglian.

A first-transformation immortal approached the group and smiled. ”Follow me to register first, then receive what you need to enter the Path of Yin. You probably won’t be exploring outside for a while, so you’ll have to help out in the Underworld.”

Fang Chen was dumbfounded.

Help out in the Underworld?