Immortal of the Nine Realms

Seeing Xiaohua grumbling like this, Fang Xiaotian couldn’t help but chuckle. His gaze swept over the young talents present and said, ”These fellow Daoists might be even more talented than we are. Chatting with them can sometimes lead to unexpected insights.”

He gave Xiaohua a knowing smile. ”You want to go back... could it be that you’re just craving those clear broth noodles? You’re already at the Fusion Realm, can you still not restrain your appetite?”

Unlike two hundred years ago, the two had fully grown up. While Fang Xiaotian’s face hadn’t aged much, he exuded an air of constant maturity. Every movement and manner of speech bore an uncanny resemblance to Fang Chen.

As for Fang Xiaohua, she still retained the baby fat from her childhood, but her features had clearly matured. However, she still radiated a sense of naivety, having evidently not undergone much social tempering. If she had, she wouldn’t be so desperate to sneak away after staying here for only half an hour.

”This place isn’t fun at all. Those guys always talk in such profound, mysterious riddles. It’s frustrating,” Fang Xiaohua said, pouting.

Before Fang Xiaotian could respond, she suddenly let out a soft sigh. ”It’s been so many years. Why hasn’t Big Brother come to fetch us yet? I miss Father and Mother.”

Fang Xiaotian’s gaze softened. He gently said, ”Big Brother will definitely come for us. The fact that he arranged for so many teachers to stay here and protect us is proof enough.”

”Brother Xiaotian! So you were here. I’ve been looking for you for ages; I thought you hadn’t received my invitation.”

A beautiful figure came running over, greeting Fang Xiaotian with great enthusiasm. She only had a Nascent Soul stage cultivation, but she wore high-grade cultivation robes that exuded an air of nobility. On her collar was an embroidered exotic beast—a symbol permitted only to the royalty of the Great Victory Dynasty.

”Little Sister Five!” Fang Xiaohua’s eyes lit up. She beat her brother to the punch, immediately grabbing the girl’s hand. ”Take me somewhere fun! I’m dying of boredom here.”

”Sister Xiaohua, I haven’t even finished talking to Brother Xiaotian yet,” complained the girl, stealing a glance at Fang Xiaotian, a hint of shyness flickering in her eyes.

”Little Fifth Sister, why don’t you take Xiaohua for a stroll? I happen to want to chat with a few fellow Daoists and see if I can resolve some confusion in my cultivation,” Fang Xiaotian said with a faint, graceful smile.

He only knew that she was a member of the Great Victory Royal Family, but not a princess. Instead, she was a descendant of the legendary Third Ancestor’s lineage, ranked fifth in her generation. She possessed a distinguished status.

The three had known each other for years and shared a deep bond.

”This...”

Little Fifth Sister seemed reluctant to leave, her face etched with hesitation.

At that moment, a group of young men approached.

”Lady Sheng Wu, so you were here after all.”

The leader was tall and handsome, possessing a dignified bearing. He wore high-grade cultivation robes, and faint ripples of spiritual energy seemed to dance around him as he walked.

”Young Master Duan,” Sheng Wu greeted him casually.

She then turned immediately to Fang Xiaotian and Xiaohua and said, ”Brother Xiaotian, Sister Xiaohua, let me take you two around for a stroll.”

Seeing Sheng Wu’s cold indifference toward him, a faint smile flashed in Young Master Duan’s eyes. He turned his gaze toward Fang Xiaotian and cupped his hands in greeting. ”Fellow Daoist Fang, I have heard of your fame for a long time.”

Fang Xiaotian returned the gesture with a smile. ”Is Young Master Duan perhaps the one from the Duan Clan known for the World Shattering Sword, Duan Lingkong?”

”Fellow Daoist Fang, you jest. That title was just something people said for fun. It shouldn’t be taken seriously,” replied Duan Lingkong, waving it off modestly.

”I remember that year, Fellow Daoist Duan had only just entered the Fusion Realm,” Fang Xiaotian chuckled. ”Yet, facing a cultivator at the grand completion stage of the Fusion Realm, you unleashed a single strike that instantly sent them fleeing with heavy injuries. Those watching called it the World Shattering Sword. To face a grand-completion-stage Fusion Realm cultivator while only being in the early stage, that title is the real deal. Why shouldn’t it be taken seriously?”

Duan Lingkong observed Fang Xiaotian intently. Once he was certain there was no hint of mockery in the other man’s words, he felt a flicker of genuine emotion.

It seems the rumors were false. Fang Xiaotian isn’t as aloof and arrogant as people claim.

With this thought, Duan Lingkong smiled and let the topic drop. Instead, he invited the siblings to walk with them and discuss matters of cultivation.

Before long, however, Duan Lingkong noticed that Sheng Wu was constantly trying to strike up a conversation with Fang Xiaotian. Her intentions were so obvious that even a blind man could have sensed them.

”Fellow Daoist Duan, Lady Sheng Wu seems to have a very favorable impression of Daoist Fang,” a cultivator beside Duan Lingkong couldn’t help but remind him via sound transmission.

Duan Lingkong sighed inwardly.

His family had constantly pressured him to become Sheng Wu’s Dao Companion. For his part, he quite liked the young girl and didn’t resent the idea. But now that Sheng Wu clearly had eyes for someone else, he didn’t want to pursue her anymore. Moreover, Fang Xiaotian had actually made a very good impression on him. With this in mind, Duan Lingkong gritted his teeth and decided to give it one last shot. If it worked, it worked. If not, so be it.

Duan Lingkong spoke suddenly, ”Lady Sheng Wu.”

”Is something the matter, Young Master Duan?” replied Sheng Wu.

Duan Lingkong directly asked, ”I’d like for us to become Dao Companions. What do you think?”

Everyone’s footsteps came to a dead halt.

Sheng Wu stared at him blankly, her face suddenly turning scalding hot. She said with a mix of shame and anger, ”Young Master Duan, what are you saying!”

She kept glancing at Fang Xiaotian. She was relieved to find he wasn’t angry. But then anxiety consumed her.

Why isn’t Brother Xiaotian angry at all? Does he not like me?

Sheng Wu’s heart was in a state of chaos.

”I figured as much,” Duan Lingkong replied, then broke into a smile. ”Lady Sheng Wu, I was being presumptuous. My family also had this intention, so I wanted to be straightforward and ask about your feelings today. Now that I know, I won’t trouble you further. Besides, I also think you and Daoist Fang are a perfect match.”

Sheng Wu was originally annoyed that Duan Lingkong chose this moment to say such things and interrupt her conversation with Fang Xiaotian. However, hearing him follow up with those words, she suddenly felt the man before her wasn’t so loathsome after all.

She looked toward Fang Xiaotian with some trepidation, only to see that a change had finally appeared on his face. It was astonishment.

Sheng Wu’s heart immediately sank. She lowered her head and stared at the tips of her toes, falling silent.

”Little Sister Five, do you like my brother? If you do, then just be together! I’d be happy to have you as a sister-in-law, hehe,” gushed Fang Xiaohua.

She stepped forward and took Sheng Wu’s hand, as if cheering her on.

Sheng Wu’s head snapped back up. Bolstered by a sudden surge of courage, she gazed at Fang Xiaotian.

Fang Xiaotian furrowed his brows involuntarily, then said softly, ”Little Sister Five, Xiaohua and I won’t be staying in the Great Victory Dynasty for long. We have to leave sooner or later...”

Tears instantly welled up in Sheng Wu’s eyes. She flung her head back and cried in grievance, ”He rejected me!”

”Great Victorious is the strongest dynasty in this realm. If you don’t stay here, where else could you possibly go?” a voice rang out.

Everyone looked up to see several figures who had appeared before them at some unknown moment. One of them bore a resemblance to Duan Lingkong but looked more mature, and his cultivation was faintly touching the Ascension Realm.

That person’s gaze was ice-cold as he scanned Fang Xiaotian. He then suddenly looked at Duan Lingkong and snorted, ”Useless fellow.”

Duan Lingkong’s expression turned grim.