Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen was about to follow, but Little Immortal Honglian reacted quickly. ”You mustn’t!”

Everyone’s gaze landed on Little Immortal Honglian.

Chen Enxue teased, ”Junior Sister Hong, are you worried your Dao Companion will be snatched away?”

Little Immortal Honglian knew these people believed she and Fang Chen were really Dao Companions. Knowing the truth was otherwise, a blush flashed across her face at Chen Enxue’s comment. She quickly regained her composure and said in a serious tone, ”That is not it. I am simply worried that this place is eerie and that that woman’s background is too significant. If Fellow Daoist Fang follows her alone, he might encounter danger.”

With that, she took hold of Fang Chen’s arm. ”I will go with you.”

The two disappeared together into the crowd. Some core disciples, worried about Fang Chen’s safety, asked Chen Enxue if they should follow, but she vetoed the idea, saying, ”That person’s methods are extraordinary. Following them like that would clearly be too presumptuous. As for danger, if she truly harbored ill intent, she would have struck long ago. Why wait until today?”

Chen Enxue waved her hand. ”Let’s wander around. If we discover anything else, we’ll meet up and discuss it.”

Confident that there was no immediate danger, she decided the group should split up and explore.

At the back of the group, Ji Sheng couldn’t help but sigh. ”Core Disciple Fang entered the sect much later than I did, yet he has already become a figure on par with Third Senior Sister and the others. Cousin, don’t you think the world is truly unpredictable?”

Ji Tianjun nodded slowly. As he watched Little Immortal Honglian walk away arm-in-arm with Fang Chen, a hidden fire seemed to burn in the depths of his eyes. Suppressing his thoughts, he spoke in a calm voice, ”Cousin, as long as you diligently practice our Ji family’s secret technique, you will eventually comprehend the Formation Heart Immortal Art. It could take thirty years at most, or as little as three to five.”

”If that were truly the case, it would be wonderful. I heard that immortal art was created by a brilliant ancestor who stood at the absolute peak of the world back when our Ji family’s main branch was at its zenith in the Great Immortal Realm?

”I have you to thank for your generosity, Cousin, in being willing to share this technique with me. Otherwise, I might have struggled for many more years to comprehend it. In recent years, I’ve felt closer and closer to reaching a state of Unity of Heaven and Man with the Formation Heart. When that day comes, I will find an opportunity for you to be promoted to a core disciple.”

Ji Sheng smiled.

Ji Tianjun adopted an expression of humility. ”You are the most outstanding talent among all the branches of our Ji family and the hope of us all. Although I obtained this technique, I am more than willing to assist you.”

”Brothers for a day, brothers for a lifetime.” Ji Sheng patted Ji Tianjun on the shoulder. ”Come, let’s look around ourselves and see if there is anything strange in this place.”

***

This was a simple, ordinary courtyard, laid out exactly like the one Xu Qinghe had occupied back in the Buddhist Kingdom.

Seeing Little Immortal Honglian entering the courtyard while holding Fang Chen’s arm, Xu Qinghe merely offered a faint smile. ”This place is a bit crude. Please, sit wherever you like.”

There were stone stools and a stone table in the courtyard. After the two sat down, the ghost infant suddenly appeared on Fang Chen. With great solemnity, it pried Little Immortal Honglian’s hand off Fang Chen’s arm.

It pointed at Fang Chen. ”Daddy.”

Then it pointed at Xu Qinghe. ”Mommy.”

Finally, it looked at Little Immortal Honglian, a look of anger flaring on its face. ”Leave!”

”The child is too naughty; I hope you will forgive us,” said Xu Qinghe as she walked over carrying tea, smiling apologetically.

Little Immortal Honglian stared at the ghost infant for a long while before smiling back at Xu Qinghe. ”It’s no matter.”

Xu Qinghe got straight to the point. ”You carry the scent of Monarch Yan, which is why this little one feels so close to you. After all, in the Underworld, all ghosts revere Monarch Yan above all else.”

Fang Chen instinctively looked toward Little Immortal Honglian, only to see the ghost infant perched on her back, its tiny hands covering her eyes. Little Immortal Honglian didn’t notice a thing, sitting there completely motionless.

”She cannot see, hear, or even feel anything right now,” explained Xu Qinghe with a smile.

The ghost infant flashed Fang Chen a mischievous grin and gave its head a little shake.

”It can feel the aura of Monarch Yan on me?” mused Fang Chen as he observed the infant.

If it had this ability, then certain powerful Yin Demons in the Floating Pagoda Realm might possess similar sensory powers. Meeting them could mean his identity would be exposed instantly.

As if seeing through Fang Chen’s worry, Xu Qinghe chuckled. ”As long as you do not perform a conferment to their faces, other Yin Demons won’t see through your origins. As for my son, he was simply born special, and his perception is exceptionally powerful.”

”Senior, what are your plans for the future?” asked Fang Chen.

”What plans could I have? Nothing more than secluded cultivation here. I am already aware of the matters regarding the Greater and Lesser Underworlds. After that battle, this realm was fractured and has never regained its former prosperity. My old friends have long since died or departed.”

Xu Qinghe sighed softly. ”The Three Realms are a chaotic mess now. I can’t even determine if the Master has changed. The living beings walking the mortal realm have long since become... ambiguous.”

Fang Chen was surprised, his expression shifting. ”Senior, you know the reason behind that event?”

”Naturally. That kind of forbidden art might seal the likes of you, but it falls short of sealing my generation. The existences from my era have all, more or less, sensed it.”

Xu Qinghe pointed toward the door. ”The current Underworld is riddled with holes, a far cry from what it once was. Wandering souls who arrive here can no longer leave and can only cultivate the Path of Yin Demons or Ghost Gods. Back then, it seemed we had won, but in truth, we paid an agonizingly high price from which we have yet to recover. That matter cannot be spoken of clearly, so it is enough for you to know that I am aware of it.”

”Could you offer some guidance? How should the Nine Mortal Realms fight back?” asked Fang Chen with a heavy expression, clasping his hands.

”How to fight back... I was in Ghost Domain for many years, sleeping for just as long. I can no longer see through the current state of the Nine Realms. How can I speak of fighting back?” Xu Qinghe shook her head. ”I fear even you, as Monarch Yan, are powerless in this matter.”

”Why?”

”Are you stronger than the Monarch Yan of that era?”

”Naturally, I cannot compare.”

”That is the simple truth. Monarch Yan of that time was incredibly proud, and he had every right to be; he was a titan whose name shook all Three Realms. But look at how it ended. His life ended, and his Dao vanished. It wasn’t just him. Countless others perished then. My situation was considered among the best, yet my cultivation back then wouldn’t even have made the rankings.”

Xu Qinghe said indifferently, ”Though our current situation is grim, they are not faring much better. Maintaining this stalemate might not necessarily be a bad thing.”

Fang Chen said, ”If they find the key, the Nine Mortal Realm will collapse in an instant.”

Xu Qinghe gave a light smile. ”It is not that simple. Do not underestimate those Yang Gods. I have slept for many years, yet the situation in the Nine Realms has not deteriorated significantly. For now, you should focus on your cultivation and raise your strength. Your current level is far too low.”

”I have never underestimated those Yang Gods. If not for them, this place would already be the Nine Demon Realms,” said Fang Chen with a bitter smile.

He stood up and clasped his hands. ”Since you are intending on focusing on secluded cultivation here, then I shall take my leave. After some time, a Ghost Immortal from the Enlightenment God Palace will arrive here. If you do not wish to reveal yourself, you simply need not meet him.”