Immortal of the Nine Realms

The desolate Qingming was silent. A hundred Black Dragon Boats floated like slumbering beasts with their hulls exuding an oppressive stillness.

Far ahead, countless Thousand Armed Guanyin Formations shimmered beneath boundless Buddha light. Though the two forces were separated by a vast distance, the tension between them felt ready to explode at any moment.

At the forefront stood Senior Sister, her robe rippling with celestial light. Dozens of core disciples gathered behind her with grave expressions.

”Great Thunder Sound has been occupied by the Rulai Monastery for a thousand years,” snickered the Third Senior Sister. ”Even so, its Buddha light is no longer what it once was, and its resources have long been bled dry.”

When the Buddha light descended, those who cultivated the Buddhist Dao would see their cultivation surge. But for everyone else, the same light became a suffocating shroud, suppressing strength and will alike.

It was precisely because of this imbalance that Rulai Monastery had dominated the Great Thunder Sound Forbidden Zone for 1,100 years.

They had won the first battle. They had won the second. Now came the third. If they won again, no one would dare challenge them for another ten thousand years.

”Senior Sister, why not wait a few more years? Let the Buddha light fade before we strike?” suggested the Fourth Brother.

”There’s no time. If we delay past the appointed term, we lose our right to challenge,” answered Senior Sister.

Her gaze turned toward the Thousand Armed Guanyin Formations, sharp and cold as divine steel.

”The Rulai Monastery thinks the Buddha light makes them invincible. We didn’t fight hard for the Great Thunder Sound in the first two battles out of respect for their ancient Buddha lineage. But now? The likes of Shao Guangyin dares lay a hand on me... I’ll cut that dog’s paw clean off. Since I’m here in person, we will certainly not lose.”

A ripple of killing intent spread through the disciples. Everyone understood that this battle would be brutal. Even among the core disciples, many casualties were expected.

Senior Sister ordered, ”Call the rest of the core disciples over. When they’re here, I’ll bring a few over to negotiate the formalities.”

Soon, the remaining core disciples who had been cultivating in seclusion began to emerge one after another.

On one of the Black Dragon Boats, Ji Cheng and Ji Tianjun arrived before Fang Chen’s seclusion chamber. The formation surrounding the chamber had not been taken down, and sound could still not be transmitted inside.

Glancing at Ji Gang, Ji Cheng asked hurriedly, ”How long has Junior Brother Fang been in seclusion? We’re already near the Forbidden Zone. Senior Sister wants everyone present to discuss the formalities. Tell him to come out quickly.”

Ji Cheng had already broken through to the second transformation Immortal. Curious as to why Fang Chen hadn’t emerged, he thought, Did he fail? Wait, could he be too ashamed to show his face?

A faint smirk crept to his lips.

Just then, a streak of crimson light descended. Little Immortal Honglian had arrived.

She didn’t even look at Ji Tianjun. She nodded at Ji Gang and then inquired about Fang Chen’s condition.

”Core Disciple Fang instructed that during his seclusion, no one may disturb him,” said Ji Gang wearily.

Ji Cheng frowned slightly. ”Junior Sister Hong, forget it then. Let’s go meet Senior Sister.”

Suddenly, he noticed a small head peeking out from Little Immortal Honglian’s chest. It stirred his curiosity, and he asked, ”And this is... Daoist Mi Yu?”

Hearing her name, Mi Yu stretched her limbs and opened her eyes. When she realised she was on Little Immortal Honglian instead of Fang Chen, she turned into a streak of light and plopped beside Ji Gang.

”Daoist Ji, is Core Disciple Fang done? Have we arrived at the destination?”

Her clear, lilting voice carried as she casually took out a poisonous insect and began munching on it.

Behind her, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but smile bitterly. The insect resembled a kind of Gu Insect.

”She’s Daoist Mi Yu. She’s been asleep most of the journey,” said Little Immortal Honglian to the rest.

Then, she smiled faintly at Ji Gang and told him to go ahead without her. She was going to wait for Fang Chen.

Ji Tianjun reminded her, ”Core Disciple Hong, Senior Sister will be negotiating with the Rulai Monastery’s envoys. It’s best we all attend.”

But her decision was final, and she flatly rejected him.

Ji Tianjun’s expression tightened, but he said nothing more. Ji Cheng chuckled softly as his eyes darted to Fang Chen’s seclusion chamber.

He pondered, Advancing to the second transformation shouldn’t take this long. Perhaps...

Inside the chamber, Fang Chen was glowing with a five-colored light. The five colors each represented the Metal Origin Qi, Wood Origin Qi, Water Origin Qi, Fire Origin Qi, and Earth Origin Qi.

Thanks to the Dao Sword Tooth, his advancement to the second transformation had gone smoothly, and he should have emerged from seclusion long ago. But Little Sword had encountered a problem during the process. Because it had devoured the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain, that power now roiled within it uncontrollably.

”Little Sword, can you hear me? If you can’t speak, at least give me a sign,” asked Fang Chen hurriedly.

No matter how he probed, there was no response.

Before him, Little Sword remained enveloped in the five-colored light, as if it were in a deep slumber.

Little Sword’s spirit soul seemed to have disappeared. Fang Chen began to wonder if he’d accidentally erased its soul during his own transformation.

Luckily, Mirror of the Universe reassured him that Little Sword was fine.

”Don’t panic, Brother,” said Mirror of the Universe. ”While what is happening is indeed unusual, it’s nothing to worry about. I expected it to happen when you reached the fourth or fifth transformation. But devouring the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain thickened Little Sword’s foundation and awakened it earlier.”

”Then tell me what is going on!” demanded Fang Chen.

”I can’t say it outright... It would cost you too many immortal crystals.”

Fang Chen sighed at its response.

Moments later, Little Sword’s aura began to fluctuate violently. Origin qi from the five elements kept expanding and collapsing until Fang Chen’s glow flickered erratically. Then, Little Sword vanished with a burst of light.

In its place lay a slender figure, wrapped in the five-colored origin qi and curled up like a sleeping child. Long black hair spilled like ink, half-veiling her form. Through it shone faint hues of the five elements.

***

At the same time, far across the realms, the long-silent Spiritual Treasure Ranking, untouched for countless ages, rippled once more as a new name appeared upon it.

Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Divine Sword.