Immortal of the Nine Realms

”First-transformation immortals of the Killing Spiritual Division? Wouldn’t those be the Division Heads?”

Ning Beiyou was quite surprised. Having served as a Division Head himself, he knew exactly what such a presence represented in each territory. If they were first-transformation immortals, the strongest enemies they would face in their respective regions would usually only be at the first transformation. How could they simply vanish without a trace?

Huang Qingque nodded. ”Exactly. These Division Heads suddenly disappeared without a single trace. Buying information from the Immortal Worshipping Palace or the Hidden Guard Division has yielded no results. After learning of this, I reported it to the upper echelons in the department. I might have to personally make a trip back to the Lower Six Realms to investigate.”

”Between the descent of the demonic calamity and the disappearance of the Division Heads, I’d bet this really is the work of the Spirit God Sect,” murmured Ning Beiyou to himself.

”Forget it, let’s not talk about that for now. Tell us about yourself. Who is this legendary Dao companion of yours? I never heard you mention her back in the Lower Six Realms,” teased Huang Qingque.

Ning Beiyou coughed awkwardly. ”It was only after I returned to the Upper Three Realms. My family demanded that I leave behind an heir, so they selected a socially compatible companion for me. I hear she is a third-transformation Immortal. As for her looks... I haven’t actually met her yet. I only know she is a cultivator from Tianshui Manor.”

Fang Chen and Huang Qingque exchanged a look.

”You haven’t even met?”

”Don’t worry. Since she’s a third transformation immortal, she can’t be that ugly,” Huang Qingque offered as consolation.

Female cultivators who reached that level were rarely unsightly. On the contrary, it was the male cultivators who often neglected their appearance or practiced bizarre techniques that resulted in... unique facial features.

Ning Beiyou gave a self-deprecating laugh but didn’t seem to mind. To him, this was merely a political marriage between his clan and an outside power. It was a common occurrence for a great clan.

***

Ning Beiyou’s wedding and the grand ceremony for his advancement to Immortal Sovereign were set to take place simultaneously in half a month. Fang Chen made an excuse to leave the Ning Clan estate, steering the Black Dragon Boat toward the location of the Sword Bone.

After half a day’s travel, he arrived at the coordinates provided by Mirror of the Universe.

Below lay an Immortal Tomb, the burial site of a third-transformation Sword Immortal. The deceased had indeed achieved significant heights in the sword path to have a Sword Bone. However, it seemed the tomb had already been discovered.

Numerous factions were currently fighting over the treasures within. Among the crowd were Upper Three Realms cultivators, as well as first, second, and even third-transformation immortals. The scene below was chaotic, yet no one noticed the Black Dragon Boat hovering high above.

One person would find a treasure only to be struck down the next moment. The looter would then be killed shortly after. While the lower-level cultivators slaughtered each other, the immortals stood in the void, observing like Fang Chen, waiting for the right moment.

Seeing that the core of the tomb was about to be breached, Fang Chen gave a command. ”Little Sword, go bring that Sword Bone back. Make sure they don’t accidentally damage it.”

Little Sword instantly transformed into her human form and excitedly flew toward the tomb.

The sudden appearance of a girl didn’t draw much attention from the brawling cultivators, who merely spared her a glance. Only the immortals in the void sensed a strange aura emanating from her, narrowing their eyes.

A cultivator at the Ascension Realm had already reached the core of the tomb. Seeing Little Sword approaching, he barked a warning, ”Little girl, this is no place for you. Leave at once!”

”I’m only taking one thing. I have no interest in the rest; you can have it all,” replied Little Sword nonchalantly, continuing her advance.

The Ascension Realm cultivator’s face darkened. ”You refuse to listen?”

Just as he was about to strike, another Ascension Realm cultivator nearby casually swung a palm toward Little Sword. The attack was akin to a dismissive gesture, like someone stepping on an ant while walking past.

However, the little girl everyone had ignored simply looked up at him. In her eyes, a seven-colored light seemed to swirl. A strand of invisible sword qi shot out, instantly piercing through the cultivator’s forehead. He collapsed with a dull thud, leaving only his bewildered soul standing in place, lost and confused.

The first cultivator, who had been about to act, froze mid-motion and instinctively scrambled backward. The surrounding group of Ascension Realm experts exchanged looks of shock and suspicion. None dared to lift a finger against her again.

If the Ascension Realm cultivators were that terrified, the Tribulation and Dao Union Realm cultivators within the tomb were even less inclined to intervene. They could only watch helplessly as Little Sword pried open the core of the Immortal Tomb, revealing a corpse.

There were no treasures surrounding the body, and only a single bone fragment rested before it, shimmering with a profound, radiant divine light.

Little Sword gave a gentle beckon, and the bone fragment flew into her hand. As the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Sword, she immediately sensed the incredibly majestic Sword Domain contained within this bone.

”This is the one,” said Little Sword with a slight smile, turning to leave the tomb.

A first-transformation immortal finally lost his patience and called out, ”Little girl, wait!”

He stepped out from the void and cupped his hands toward Little Sword.

”What is it? I didn’t take anything else except this,” replied Little Sword, looking at him.

The first-transformation immortal scrambled to choose his words carefully. ”This item... was discovered by us first. Perhaps it would be better if you left it behind?”

”That won’t do. This is exactly what Little Chen wants,” replied Little Sword, rolling her eyes.

She ignored the man and flew back toward the Black Dragon Boat.

The first transformation immortal couldn’t see the cloaked boat at all. Seeing the girl about to leave, he decided to strike. Majestic immortal essence surged forth, shocking every cultivator present. People stopped in their tracks, their faces contorting in pain as the first-transformation immortal’s pressure bore down on them like a massive mountain.

Then, seven-colored lights began to swirl around Little Sword.

Before she even made a move, a terrifying sword intent radiated outward, making everyone’s scalp tingle with fear. The first-transformation immortal instantly froze. He sensed an incredibly unique aura from the girl, an aura he had once encountered on a certain senior expert.

This is that senior’s Spiritual Treasure! This little girl is a Spirit Treasure in human form!?

If so, her master...

The terrifying aura didn’t just suppress the first-transformation Immortal. Over a dozen immortals who had been hiding in the void were forcibly knocked out of concealment. Even the only two third-transformation immortals present were no exception.

”How are there so many of you!?”

The first-transformation immortal who had shown himself first was completely stunned, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes. He had genuinely thought he was the only immortal on the scene.

Little Sword ignored them and returned happily to the Black Dragon Boat before handing the Sword Bone to Fang Chen. After offering her a word of praise, Fang Chen steered the boat away from the area. Only now did the crowd realize there had been an immortal boat hovering above them the entire time.

”That little girl just now... she must be a spiritual treasure...” one of the third-transformation immortals murmured to himself. ”If even the Spirit Treasure possesses such overwhelming might, then her master...”

He exchanged a look with the other third-transformation immortal. They both remained silent as a chill ran through their spine.