Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen didn’t rush into Renzu Mountain. Since this group of mortals was performing a sacrificial ritual, it implied that the mountain held a special significance for them. It was a perfect opportunity to observe.

Below Renzu Mountain stood a massive sacrificial altar. Groups of elderly men and women dressed in opulent ceremonial robes stood atop it. They chanted incantations rhythmically, occasionally kneeling toward the heavens in unison while shouting, ”Human Ancestor!”

Surrounding the altar, tens of thousands of elite soldiers stood guard. Every soldier had a foundation in martial arts. According to the martial rankings of Tuxioing—Heaven Profound, Earth Profound, and Human Profound—these soldiers were all at the Human Profound Stage. Among them were many experts who had reached the Earth Profound or even Heaven Profound Stage.

After the elders on the altar knelt once more and cried out to the ancestors, they turned in unison. Their gazes fell upon a thin, frail figure at the base of the altar.

”Your Majesty, it is time to ascend the stage and receive the Ancestral Investiture,” an elderly eunuch whispered into the ear of a seven-or eight-year-old child beside him.

This eunuch possessed extremely high cultivation, having reached the fourth level of the Heaven Profound Stage, Imperial Qi. In the eyes of ordinary mortals, a martial artist of this caliber was no different from a deity. If he were to go all out, even a careless 12th-stage Qi Refining cultivator would suffer at his hands.

”Eunuch Zhang, once I receive the investiture, will I truly be the Emperor of the Dongsheng Empire? Will everyone come to pay their respect?” asked the child with a look of anticipation.

The old eunuch froze for a moment, then nodded heavily. His voice resonant and powerful, he said, ”Once Your Majesty receives the investiture, you will be the premier Emperor of Dongsheng. Everyone must recognize it, whether they wish to or not. Whoever dares to object shows disrespect to the Ancestors!”

At that moment, tens of thousands of eyes converged on the child. There was anticipation, excitement, and awe. However, there was also worry and apprehension.

Aboard the Black Dragon Boat, Fang Xiaotian glanced toward the distance and suddenly remarked, ”Their ceremony is likely about to be interrupted.”

The cultivators present were all exceptionally sharp. The surging undercurrents below could not be hidden from them. Around Renzu Mountain, several factions from different backgrounds were quietly surrounding the altar. They might not have been working together, but at that moment, their goals were aligned.

”Big Brother, that little child might be in trouble,” said Fang Xiaohua, looking down at the young boy, a hint of worry appearing on her face.

Compared to the fierce and menacing looks of the surrounding factions, the seven-year-old naturally evoked more pity.

After a moment of hesitation, Duan Lingkong said, ”Lady Xiaohua, once you’ve become a cultivator... it’s best not to interfere in the struggles of mortals. Our methods are far superior to theirs. If we intervene, it will inevitably disrupt the balance of the world.”

”There is some truth in what you say. It is generally best for cultivators to avoid interfering in mortal conflicts. In a battle like this, maybe only ten or twenty thousand will die,” said Fang Chem. ”But if a cultivator intervenes, the chain reaction caused later might affect the livelihoods of millions or even tens of millions of people.”

He added with a faint smile, ”Take today for example. The goal of those factions is clearly to prevent this little emperor from ascending the throne. If we intervene and allow his smooth succession, and he turns out to be a wise ruler years from now, then all is well. But if he becomes a tyrant, we would have invisibly tainted ourselves with that karma.”

Fang Xiaohua pondered this deeply, her expression becoming solemn. Nanming Shaoze and the others nodded silently. This was a principle their elders had emphasized since the very beginning of their cultivation.

But then Fang Chen continued, his smile widening. ”However... the goal of cultivation is ultimate freedom. If you feel this child is worthy and truly wish to help him, you may certainly act, provided you are prepared to bear the subsequent karmic consequences.”

The group was slightly startled. Nanming Shaoze looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

”Sometimes, following the rules too strictly isn’t necessarily a good thing. Many opportunities and breakthroughs are found at the boundary between life and death. Cultivators with high-born lineages and inheritances might not need to gamble their lives for fortune, but that doesn’t mean those who do are in the wrong.”

Fang Chen looked at Fang Xiaohua. ”Do as you wish. I have your back, whatever your choice is.”

”Thank you, Big Brother!” Fang Xiaohua immediately grasped the point and said with a grin, ”Then let’s wait a bit longer. This little kid might not necessarily lose.”

***

The young child had reached the center of the altar under the expectant gaze of everyone. Next, as long as the final steps of the ritual were completed, this new generation of the Dongsheng Empire’s royalty could rightfully take the throne.

The Dongsheng Empire has existed in name only for many years... I hope His Majesty can extend our destiny for another generation, thought the old eunuch with a flicker of hope in his eyes as he watched the little emperor’s back.

But at that moment, countless arrows suddenly whistled through the air from all directions, unstoppable like a violent storm!

Puff! Puff! Puff!

In an instant, more than half of the elderly officials on the altar were struck. The force behind the arrows was immense, causing their bodies to burst into clouds of blood and flesh upon impact. The remaining elders immediately lunged toward the little emperor, using their own bodies as human shields to protect him.

The old eunuch’s face darkened. ”Rebels! Kill them!”

With a low, chilling roar, the full power of a peak Heaven Profound martial artist erupted. A terrifying wave of qi swept outward in all directions, grinding the arrows in the sky into fine powder.

An instant later, the old eunuch appeared on the altar, shielding the little emperor with his wide sleeves, his gaze cold and piercing as he scanned the surroundings.

”Charge!”

Led by their generals, a small portion of the elite troops stood their ground to guard the altar, while the rest launched a fearless counterattack against the encroaching enemies. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the pungent scent of blood permeated the forest.

”This is Renzu Mountain, the sacred land of Dongsheng and the source of all living beings under heaven! You rebels are audacious beyond belief to strike here. May Heaven strike you down and cast you into the eternal depths of Hell!”

The old eunuch’s voice was like the roar of a waking lion, its sound waves rolling majestically in every direction.

”You damned old eunuch! It is precisely because of people like you in power that Dongsheng exists in name only while warlords carve up the land. Today, once we slaughter the last of your elite troops and kill you sycophantic dog and that little emperor, Dongsheng shall rise like the morning sun and soar through the nine heavens once more!”

A piercing shriek rang out as a massive, burly man stepped through the air. His internal aura was so refined that arrows could not graze him. Wherever he passed, it was as if a great beast were rampaging. The mere pressure of his presence caused nearby elite soldiers to cough up blood and die instantly.

A flicker of gravity finally crossed the old eunuch’s eyes. ”Qi Beixiang, the number one expert under the King of Hejian!?”

Simultaneously, several more sharp whistles pierced the air as three more figures stepped through the void from different directions toward the altar. All four newcomers were at the peak of the Heaven Profound Stage, the absolute pinnacle experts of this world!

”Good! Come then!”

The old eunuch let out a sinister laugh, erupting forward like a bolt of lightning. In an instant, he spiraled around the perimeter, exchanging a blow with each of the masters before returning to the little emperor’s side.

Puff.

All four peak Heaven Profound experts, including Qi Beixiang, spat out blood and were sent flying backward.

”How can this be...”

Disbelief rose in their hearts. How could this old eunuch’s strength have reached such an absurd level?

Aboard the Black Dragon Boat, Fang Xiaohua was quite surprised. It wasn’t until she noticed Fang Chen looking at her with a knowing smile that she asked hesitantly, ”Big Brother, did you see from the start that this eunuch’s martial cultivation was extremely high?”

The others were also taken aback. Because these mortals practiced martial arts, the cultivators hadn’t scrutinized them closely at first. Now they realized the old eunuch’s methods seemed to have transcended the boundaries of ordinary martial arts. Even they could sense a faint trace of threat emanating from the old man.

”This man is a martial arts manic,” remarked Fang Chen softly, looking at the old eunuch with a sigh of appreciation.