Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen made a trip back to the Enlightenment God Palace.

Fearing his own reserves of immortal crystals wouldn’t be enough, he sought out several core disciples and sold two hundred and forty merit points.

Since merit points were much more valuable than immortal crystals, no one would normally exchange one for the other. Consequently, there wasn’t a fixed market price, and it mostly depended on personal relationships. However, since it was clear that Fang Chen was in a pinch and needed immortal crystals quickly, these core disciples gave him a good exchange rate as a way of building rapport.

Those two hundred and forty merit points were exchanged for roughly one thousand immortal crystals. Previously, a portion of Fang Chen’s immortal crystals had been distributed to the members of the Nine Realms Expedition Team, another part to his eleven avatars, and some to Elder Xun and Wang Zhenlong. He had very little left for himself.

Fang Chen asked plainly, ”Little Mirror, how many immortal crystals are needed for details on the immortal herb of the third-transformation Sword Immortal Path?”

”Cheap. Five hundred should about do it,” replied Mirror of the Universe casually.

Fang Chen didn’t haggle and tossed five hundred immortal crystals. After Mirror of the Universe finished consuming them, it directed him to turn to page four hundred and thirty-one.

As Fang Chen read the contents, his expression turned somewhat strange. ”The third-transformation immortal herb for a Sword Immortal is a Sword Bone formed after the death of a third-transformation immortal?”

The information on the page was quite detailed, even explaining how a Sword Bone is formed. If a third-transformation Sword Immortal possessed a comprehension of the Sword Domain that far exceeded the norm, there was a probability that a Sword Bone would manifest within their corpse after death. That bone contained the Sword Immortal’s lifelong insights and understanding of the Sword Domain.

Sword Immortals needed to consume a Sword Bone when attempting a breakthrough to the third transformation. If the Sword Domains of both Sword Immortals were compatible, the breakthrough would go smoothly. However, if the Sword Domains—and sword intents—were of conflicting natures, a backlash could erupt. If the conflicting Sword Domain within the Sword Bone was not suppressed, not only would the breakthrough fail, but the practitioner could even find their Sword Domain damaged in the end.

”The Linglong Constellation... It seems the Ning Clan is located there.”

Fang Chen remembered Ning Beiyou mentioning the place to him. If he set out from the Langgui Constellation, given the speed of the Black Dragon Boat, it would take roughly ten years to arrive. Once there, he could use the Formation Heart to dissolve the restrictions of the Linglong Constellation, allowing him to travel freely through the Underworld and return to Enlightenment Star in an instant.

Having made his decision, Fang Chen entered the Underworld with his physical body. He first returned to the Lesser Underworld to check on the situation in the Lower Six Realms over the past few years.

***

”Currently, within the territories we govern, eighty-seven regions have experienced the onset of the demonic calamity.”

”The methods used by the Demon Suppressing Division have been remarkably effective. Many who fell into the demonic state were identified and executed on the spot.”

”However, there are bound to be many who slipped through the net, as we lack the means to detect them all. Beyond that, the Demon Suppressing Division has been dispatched to every territory under our rule to warn of the dangers. However, due to a severe lack of manpower, it will take some time before we see significant results.”

Xia Ji summarized the progress of the past few years, then looked at Fang Chen with a hint of suspicion. ”Fang Da, these demonized people are a bit strange. It’s as if they’ve gained memories from a previous life.”

The Hidden Guard Division was skilled at gathering intelligence. It was clear that over these years, they had pieced together bits and pieces and formed a hypothesis.

Fang Chen hoped that Xia Ji would eventually discover the truth on his own, so he didn’t stop him.

Fang Chen fell silent for a moment, then said, ”Carefully investigate. If you do discover something one day, remember not to speak about it aloud. If you let it slip, it might invite catastrophe.”

”So... you can’t tell me? Because even you would get into trouble for it?” Xia Ji realized. ”No wonder you’ve been so secretive. I thought you were just acting mysterious.”

”I would have told you long ago if I could,” replied Fang Chen helplessly.

”What kind of trouble makes even you so wary now? We are in the Lesser Underworld right now. You can’t even speak about it here?” Xia Ji tested.

Fang Chen shook his head. ”Nope.”

Xia Ji’s expression turned solemn. ”I get it now.”

If things had reached this point, he believed the trouble wasn’t merely originating from a single person.

”Just keep a close watch,” said Fang Chen. ”By the way, have you found Abbess Qing He?”

Xia Ji reported, ”It’s strange. Sister Qing He seems to have vanished into thin air. There’s no trace of her anywhere. I even sent people to the Concealed Moon Hermitage, but she’s not there. Even her master, Abbess Zhu Yue, has no idea where she went. Don’t worry, if my people find her, I’ll notify you immediately.”

”The cultivation world is vast. Perhaps she encountered her own fortune, or perhaps...”

Fang Chen trailed off.

Xia Ji knew what he meant. There was a chance she might be dead. If she were dead and her soul had entered the Underworld, the search area would be impossibly wide.

”While you’re at it, investigate which first-transformation immortals have suddenly gone missing over the last few years,” added Fang Chen.

”Why look into that?” Xia Ji asked in puzzlement.

Fang Chen smiled. ”Unleashing a demonic calamity requires the life of a first-transformation immortal as a sacrifice. If we identify them and trace their backgrounds, we might find some unexpected leads.”

Once he reached the third transformation, he would head to the True Martial Realm to hunt down the individual Xin Zong had mentioned. Perhaps he could squeeze out the true identity of that Saint Son. If he could learn their identity in the Nine Mortal Realms, he might be able to end this matter once and for all by striking directly at the root.

Xia Ji laughed. ”Understood. I’ll have my men look into it. I’ll also collaborate with the Immortal Worshipping Palace. Their methods are still quite unconventional, and the Hidden Guard Division’s foundation is still a bit lacking compared to theirs.”

After their talk, Fang Chen departed and headed straight for the Langgui Constellation. Using it as a transit point, he steered the Black Dragon Boat toward the Linglong Constellation.

***

In the silent expanse of Qingming.

With a thought from Fang Chen, a streak of light emerged from his body and condensed into a human form. Little Sword held a tower-shaped treasure in her hand, munching on it bite by bite. Her foundation had grown alongside Fang Chen’s cultivation, and digesting a heaven-grade treasure was now a matter of minutes.

Fang Chen asked in amusement, ”Little Sword, how many core disciples did you visit while I was away?”

Little Sword lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled proudly. ”Only about two hundred or so.”

Fang Chen shook his head. ”So, two hundred heaven-grade treasures?”

”Little Chen, they were all so nice! As soon as they saw me coming, they enthusiastically gave me treasures.” Little Sword patted her stomach. ”I almost couldn’t eat another bite.”

Fang Chen shook his head and laughed. ”Of course they were enthusiastic. They know you are my spiritual treasure. Word got around that you like eating treasures, so by giving you one, I end up owing them a favor. But no matter, I can afford the favors for heaven-grade treasures,”

Little Sword was completely clueless about worldly favors and social debt. She didn’t understand and didn’t care to. Instead, she asked curiously, ”Where are we going this time? Are there a lot of treasures there?”

”Linglong Constellation. Since it’s a constellation, there are naturally many treasures, perhaps even spiritual treasures. However, you can’t be reckless. Spiritual treasures have owners, and we have no reason to go around eating people’s things without cause,” warned Fang Chen.

He then poured his power into the Black Dragon Boat, surging toward the Linglong Constellation with staggering speed!