Immortal of the Nine Realms

As soon as the sixth-transformation immortal appeared, everyone in the hall collectively gasped in shock.

”Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign!?”

”It’s him...”

”He was already famous long before I was even born!”

”Senior Brother Li Si must have tremendous connections!”

The newcomer was none other than Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign, the top combatant of Xie Aman’s Divine Seal Expedition Team. Among all sixth-transformation immortals within the Enlightenment God Palace, his cultivation was known for its astonishing refinement and depth. Though he had applied several times for the Core Disciple Assessment and failed to form a contract with a Formation Heart, no one doubted that he would one day ascend to an Ancient Immortal.

With just a spot on the Immortal Register of the Ancient Immortal Realm, he would almost certainly step into that domain. At that level, even barehanded, he could fight Li Shanzi, a core disciple newly mastering Formation Immortal Arts, to an even match.

He was not a core disciple, yet his status was equal to one. Additionally, the person supporting him was none other than their Senior Sister, Xie Aman. Compared to her, the highest cultivation level among those present was only the fourth transformation, merely on par with Jiang Chen and Li Si.

They hurriedly stepped forward to bow.

”We pay respects to Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign!”

”No need for formalities,” he said flatly, nodding slightly.

Li Si’s heart leapt with excitement. Taking a step forward, he bowed low and said, ”I never expected Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign would attend my humble tea gathering. Had I known in advance, I would have welcomed you personally. Please don’t take offense.”

”This is too impressive for Li Si,” someone whispered. ”After today, among all fourth-transformation immortals, who would dare challenge him?”

”Maybe it’s because Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Brother have grown close lately, perhaps she sent Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign to show support.”

”That seems unlikely. Senior Sister would never bother with such things. It’s probably personal friendship between him and Li Si.”

”Well, Li Si has been planning for years, holding all these tea gatherings to build connections. His name now echoes across Enlightenment Star.”

As people whispered among themselves, Li Si’s grin grew wider. But just as he was about to speak, the Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign frowned slightly and said, ”Tea gathering? didn’t come here for that.”

Li Si blanked. Confused, he asked, ”Eh... then... what brings you here, Immortal Sovereign?”

Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign ignored him. Instead, his eyes swept across the crowd before settling on Fang Chen. A faint smile rose on his face. ”Senior Sister sent me to fetch you.”

Countless eyes turned toward Fang Chen at once, filled with disbelief, shock, and awe.

Li Si looked dazed.

Jiang Chen’s expression shifted wildly.

Even Yu Tiange and Nanming Shaoze were dumbstruck.

Senior Sister sent Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign personally to fetch Fang Chen?

If those words hadn’t come out of Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign’s own mouth, no one would believe them. Xie Aman was an existence far beyond their reach. Why would she pay attention to a newly advanced first-transformation immortal?

If Fang Chen were a core disciple, that would be somewhat understandable. But even core disciples rarely had the chance to meet her, much less have her send someone of this level to retrieve them.

”Wait, could it be he’s offended Senior Sister somehow?” someone whispered suddenly.

However, that didn’t seem to be the case. There was no anger on the Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign’s face, which made that unlikely.

”Many thanks, Senior,” Fang Chen said, bowing politely.

He nodded lightly. ”Let’s go.”

Just as Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign was about to take Fang Chen away, Jiang Chen finally couldn’t hold back and asked, ”Immortal Sovereign, for what reason is Senior Sister seeking Fang Chen?”

”For what reason?”

Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign was about to respond, but he soon realized that the situation was unusual. Recalling what Jiang Chen had done to Fang Chen before, he instantly understood. A faint smile curved his lips.

”Nothing serious,” said Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign. ”It’s just that Fang Chen’s Core Disciple Assessment has been approved and prepared. The Elders’ Council has already issued an order permitting the use of a Formation Heart. I’m here to escort him to the examination site. Senior Sister is already waiting for him.” 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

”...”

The entire hall fell utterly silent.

Even Nanming Shaoze felt as if his heart had skipped several beats, unable to process what he had just heard.

Had they heard correctly? Core Disciple Assessment? A newly joined cultivator who spent less than a century within the palace, barely a first-transformation immortal, was already undergoing the assessment? Even Jiang Chen, with all his background and cultivation up to the fourth transformation, had yet to accumulate enough merit for such a qualification.

How could he have achieved it?

They instinctively didn’t believe it, but Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign was right before them. A man like him would never lie about something so important.

”Impossible...” Jiang Chen forced a laugh. ”There must be some mistake. Does he even have enough merit to qualify for the assessment? If this is an error, it must be investigated carefully. Otherwise, when word spreads, how will other cultivators view our system? Fairness must always be the foundation.”

”Senior Brother Jiang speaks truth,” someone echoed.

”I’ve been in the Palace for over 2,400 years, and I still haven’t gathered enough merit points for the assessment. If he obtained this opportunity through favoritism, that would be deeply unfair to the rest of us.”

As murmurs of protest spread through the crowd, the Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign simply said calmly. ”You needn’t worry. He earned enough merit. That’s why he earned the qualifications to undergo the assessment. The rules of the Enlightenment God Palace have stood for ages. No one dares violate them. Tell me, Jiang Chen, Elder Jiang is supporting you. Has he ever intervened to secure you an exam slot?”

”...”

Jiang Chen’s forced smile stiffened. ”But the assessment requires 5,000 merit points. How could he possibly have accumulated that so quickly?!”

”It wasn’t easy,” Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign replied, his tone carrying a faint hint of amusement. ”This time, Fang Chen followed Senior Sister through two life-threatening incidents and achieved great merit. Senior Sister personally awarded him 3,000, and the Elders’ Council granted him 2,000. Add them together... and what do you get?”

No one needed to think about that equation. It was obviously 5,000.

The crowd collectively realized the truth, their gazes turning from disbelief to raw envy.

Jiang Chen was momentarily speechless, his face stiff as stone.

Seeing their reactions, the Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign chuckled softly and departed with Fang Chen, disappearing into the void.

”Fellow Daoist Jiang,” Li Si exhaled softly. ”You’ve really dragged me into trouble this time.”

Offending a newly promoted core disciple wasn’t a big deal in itself. But if that core happened to be favored by their Senior Sister, then it became a serious problem.

His own backer, the Fourth Senior Brother, could use Formation Immortal Arts, true, but compared to the Senior Sister, the gap was vast.

”So what if he’s taking the exam?” Jiang Chen snorted coldly. ”Plenty have failed before. Even the Hundred Battle Immortal Sovereign failed twice himself! Since he’s testing today, we might as well go and watch. If he passes, we’ll be there to congratulate him first.”

Everyone immediately agreed.

Now that someone was undergoing a Core Disciple Assessment, this tea gathering had lost all importance. Witnessing the test firsthand was far more valuable.